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Copyright ]^^_ 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT: 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2010 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/newyorkofyesterdOOmott 



Of this limited letterpress edition five 
hundred copies have been printed, 
and the type has been distributed 




^,y. VUyl^^^t^t^^rLdy&'trHjd 



BOOKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR 

In preparation 



I. — Madison Square and Vicinage. That sec- 
tion of Manhattan Island lying generally be- 
tween Washington and Bryant Squares will be 
thoroughly handled. 
Illustrated. 
2. — The Bloomingdale District. The Farms 
and Families of Old Bloomingdale will be 
exhaustively treated. 
Illustrated. 
3. — The Court of Nieuw Amsterdam, 1653, 
with Biographies of the Magistrates. 
Illustrated. 
Each of these volumes will cover the ground his- 
torically, cartographically, and genealogically, and 
will be voluminously illustrated with portraits, old 
Dutch homesteads, country seats, maps, and general 
views of the localities. 



iRew l^ork of l^csti v 



A Descripuvt oi 

Olb JSloonuiiGbalc 

It5 topographical feu v. 

Its early families and the^r aer>f'V 

Its old homest?;ads « 

Its French invasion, 

and 

Its war experiences 

Second House of Worship 

Organized 1805, I 
The Church a 



Hopp 

Member of the N. Y. Historical S: 

and Biographical Society and ^' 



JVitA y8 Illustrati 



New York ; 
Ztc linlcftcrl 
1 90 c 



IRew l^ot?? of l^estetba^ 



A Descriptive Narrative of 

Qlb BloominGbale 

1lt0 topographical features, 
HtS early families and their genealogies, 
1It6 old homesteads and t:ountry-seats. 
Its French invasion, 

and ^ ■ 

II t0 war experiences 

considered in their relation to 

fits first Religious Society 

Zhc Bloomingbale IReformeb Cburcb 

Organized 1805. Incorporated 1806 as 
The Church at Harsenville, 

Hopper Striker Mott 

Member of the N. Y. Historical Society, Trustee of the N. Y. Genealogical 
and Biographical Society and Member of the Holland Society. 



JVt't/i yS Illustrations, Diagrams, and Maps 



G. P. Putnam's Sons 

New York and London 

^be finlcFierbocltet: ^xza 

1908 






^LIBRARY of CONGKESS 
(wo Coo)es Heceivet: 

MAY 20 1908 
OliiSS^ XXc, ^u. 



Copyright, 1908 



HOPPER STRIKER MOTT 



Ubc TRnfcfeetbocfeet iptcM, Hew fioek 



DEDICATED 

to the Memory of the 

Early Knickerbocker Settlers of 

Bloemendael 

the Former and Present Members of the 

Church at Harsenville 

and to 

Jacob Harsen 

and 

Barbara Asten 

its Benefactors 



(Eontent6 

A Discursive Survey 

PAGE 

I. — Bloomingdale ...... I 

Herein the limits of the territory to which the generic 
name attached are shown to have extended as far south as 
23d Street, and a description of the famihes, farms, and 
landmarks as far north as the " Hollow Way " (Manhattan 
Street) of Revolutionary renown is given, omitting for the 
nonce that distinctive portion of the territory locally 
known as Harsenville. The cottage in which Poe and 
his child- wife Virginia boarded in 1843-4 and where he 
wrote The Raven, and the location of the "grand old elm " 
which inspired Morris to compose " Woodman, Spare that 
Tree," are talked of, as are, among others, "Elmwood," 
and the country seat of John McVickar, the mer- 
chant prince, "Oak Villa," that of Judge Brockholst Liv- 
ingston, and "Mount Aubrey," that of William Weyman. 
The famous surgeon. Dr. Valentine Mott, and the local 
guide, philosopher, and friend. Dr. A.V. Williams, are men- 
tioned, the Rogers houses, originally those of Humphrey 
and Nicholas Jones, made famous in Revolutionary his- 
tory, are described, as is St. Michael's Church, with tri- 
butes to the memory of Mrs. Richmond and the Rev. Dr. 
T. McC. Peters. "Willow Bank," the seat of Caspar 
Meier, " Woodlawn," the Bloomingdale Asylum, Nicholas 
de Peyster's mansion, and "Claremont," are a few of the 
other features of this chapter 

II. — Bloomingdale Militant .... 28 

This contains the first and only presentation of the facts 
relating to the war history of the locality. Here will 



vi Contents 

PAGE 

be found a connected account thereof, commencing at 
Colonial times. The French and Indian Wars, with local 
enlistments, the Battle of Harlem Heights, where was 
won the only victory of Washington's troops on the 
Island, and the War of 1812 are described. A valuable 
list of Bloomingdale men who served in these wars, 
with, in many instances, their records, is included, and 
a discussion from the very latest information of topo- 
graphical points made famous in the Revolutionary strug- 
gle, with an exhaustive examination of the defences on 
Bloomingdale Heights, erected during the Second War 
with England, concludes the chapter. 



III. — Harsenville 81 

The centre of this section of Bloomingdale was the Harsen- 
ville Road, the bed of which present 71st Street east of 
Broadway nearly follows. It ran across Central Park 
and connected the west side with the old Post Road (Third 
Avenue) at a time when no other access was available. 
The Harsen family, from whom the name arose, lived in 
the mansion which stood opposite its western end. The 
chapter includes a narrative of the French invasion of the 
hamlet during the Reign of Terror, and gossips of Mme. 
d'Auliffe, dame d'honneur to Marie Antoinette, the great 
Talleyrand and others who were visitors at her chalet near 
present 72d Street, of the young Due d'Orleans and his 
two brothers, the Due who became, as Louis Philippe, 
King of France, and his experience while residing in the 
Somerindyke house, of General Moreau and his real estate 
investment, and finally of the reception of the Prince of 
Wales, now Edward VII of England. All the old-time 
houses of any pretension located in this section are de- 
scribed, with the Village Academy, the tavern, the fire 
company, and the Harsenville Post Office. 

IV. — The First Consistory .... 100 

This term designates those individuals who, with the 
Pastor, composed the governing body of the Church. The 
families of Hopper, Striker, Harsen, and Webbers have 
been traced from the respective pioneers to New Amster- 
dam and genealogical material concerning them and allied 
families published for the first time. 



dontents vii 

PAGE 

V. — The Church at Harsenville . . . 157 

First Period, 1S05-1855. 

VI. — The Church at Harsenville . . . 222 

Second Period, 1855-1906. 

These chapters present a detailed history of the organiza- 
tion covering the century of its existence. 

VII. — Among Old-time Families ■ . . . 298 

Herein will be found valuable historical data included 
with biographical and genealogical material obtained 
very largely from personal application to the families 
mentioned, very little of which has heretofore been pub- 
lished. 

VIII. — Reminiscences 405 

This title describes with sufficient accuracy the contents. 
It has been gleaned from diaries, letters, and notes taken 
from the spoken words of the few surviving old residents. 

IX. — Vital Statistics 446 

Marriages, 446. 

Index to Marriages, 521. 

Baptisms, 479. 

Index to Baptisms, 530. 

X. — Appendices . 541 

A. Authorization. 

B. Incorporation. 

C. The Synod of Dort. 

D. Notable Gifts and Memorials. 

E. Officers from the date of organization. 

F. Signatures of individuals connected with the Church. 

XI. — General Index 555 



miuetratione 

PAGE 

"The Church AT Harsenville'* , . Frontispiece 

Second House of Worship. Erected on the Bloomingdale 
Road at 68th Street, 1814. 

Map of the Great Kill District .... 6 

Remnant of the Hopper Burial-ground, 1884 . 8 
Southwest corner of Ninth Avenue and 50th Street. 

Map of the Striker's Bay District .... 12 

The van den Heuvel Mansion, later "Burnham's," 16 

Map OF the Bloomingdale Village District . . 18 

Bloomingdale Asylum, 1821. On the Present 
Grounds of Columbia University .... 24 

Trees and Stone-wall Marking the West Side of 

Old Bloomingdale Road, 1906 .... 26 

Looking southwest from Broadway at 124th Street. 
Grant's Tomb in distance. 

Plan of the Battle of Harlem Heights, Sept. 16, 

1776 38 

Reproduced from Prof. Johnston's Battle of Harlem 
Heights by permission of Columbia University Press. 

Position op the American and British Armies 
from Sept. 16 to Oct. 12, 1776 40 

Reproduced from Prof. Johnston's Battle of Harlem 
Heights by permission of Columbia University Press. 



X miustratione 



PAGE 



The Apthorp Mansion, 1855 42 

The House of Humphrey Jones, later "The Ab- 
bey." 44 

The House OF Nicholas Jones, 1856, later "Wood- 
lawn." 46 

The Teunis Somerindyke House, 1863, where 
Louis Phillipe Taught School .... 56 

Portrait of Hon. Thomas R. Mercein, Comptroller 
OF the City of New York and Treasurer of the 
Committee of Defence (with signature). . . 60 

Reproduced from the portrait in possession of his great- 
grandson Daniel Stanbury Mercein, Esq. 

Portrait of Col. Cornelius Harseni (with signa- 
ture) 64 

From the collection of the late John Harsen Rhoades, 
Esq. 

Portrait OF Peter Hawes, Esq., of the Committee 

OF Defence (with signature) 68 

From the oil painting in possession of his grandson, Gil- 
bert Ray Hawes, Esq. 

Block House No. i, in Central Park, 1864 . . 72 

Hudson Tower and Lord Courtnay's, 1814 . . 76 

From a water-color accompanying Gen. Swift's Report. 
"Hudson Tower was commenced July 16, i8i4,andwas 
located at Monte Alta, on the River near 123d Street." 
— Guernsey. 

The McGown Farm and Houses . . . .78 

From an oil painting in possession of Mrs. Henry P. 
McGown. 

The Great Somerindyke Farm, 1862, Looking 
North from Columbus Circle 80 

Map of the Harsenville District .... 84 



1IIIU6tration6 xi 



PAGB 



The New York Orphan Asylum, 1840 ... 90 

Harsenville, 1867, Showing the Village Church, 96 

The Andrew Hopper Homestead, 1868, Broadway 

AT 50th Street 106 

Striker's Bay Mansion, 1852 118 

From the painting in possession of the author. 

Portrait of Jacob Harsen, Esq. (with signature) . 126 
From the painting in possession of J. Harsen Purdy, Esq. 

The Harsen Mansion 134 

From a pen and ink drawing by Thomason. 

Wolfert Webber's Bible, Printed at Dordrecht, 
1710 • • • • 145 

Reproduced by courtesy of Henry Vidal, Esq. 

Portr!ait of Rev. John H. Livingston, D.D., LL.D. 

(with signature) 156 

From The Memoirs of Dr. Livingston, 1829, by the Rev. 
Alexander Gunn, D.D. 

Portrait of the Rev. Alexander Gunn, D.D. (with 
signature). First Minister of the Church at 
Harsenville 162 

By courtesy of Thomas J. Burton, Esq. 

"The actual originator of the present University of the 

City of New York was, undoubtedly, the late Rev. Dr. 

Alexander Gunn of Bloomingdale." — George W. Bethvine, 

D.D. (1855) 

Map OF THE "Parsonage Acre" .... 166 

From Liber 85 of Conveyances, 521, Register's Office, New 
York City. 

The Original Parsonage, 73d Street near 
Columbus Avenue 168 

From The History of Eighty Years, 
Portrait OF IcHABOD Prall, Esq. (with signature) . 176 
By courtesy of Miss Ida Benjamin. 



xii miustratlona 

PAGE 

Line Cut of Seal, in Text 183 

Portrait of Richard A. Striker, Esq. (with sig- 
nature) 196 

From the original painting in possession of Mrs. J. H. 
Maples. 

The Communion Service 200 

Portrait of Rev. Francis M. Kip, D.D. (with sig- 
nature) 206 

By courtesy of J. B. Vandervoort, Esq. 

Portrait of Rev. Enoch van Aken (with signa- 
ture) 210 

Diagram of Interior of Church, 1854 . . . 219 

Diagram of Gallery, 1854 220 

Diagram of Original Church Site, Bloomingdale 
Road and 70th Street 223 

"The Church at Harsenville." Second House of 
Worship, 1868, showing the Encroaching 
"Shanty-town." 228 

Diagram of Site of Second House of Worship . 232 

From The History of Eighty Years. 

The Bloomingdale Reformed Church. The Third 
House of Worship, 71st Street, east of Colum- 
bus Avenue 236 

From The History of Eighty Years. 

Portrait of Rev. Carlos Martyn, D.D. (with signa- 
ture) 244 

The Bloomingdale Reformed Church. The 
Fourth House of Worship, Northeast Corner 
OF Broadway and 68th St 250 

Interior of the Fourth House of Worship . . 258 



miustrations xiii 



PAGE 



Portrait of Rev. MadIvSon C. Peters, D.D. (with 
signature) 272 

Portrait of Rev. William C. Stinson, D.D. (with 
signature) 282 

The Bloomingdale Reformed Church. The Fifth 
House of Worship, Bloomingdale Square . . 292 

The Pyatt Memorial. Designed by John La 
Farge, Esq 294 

The Gilbert Memorial. Designed by John La 
Farge, Esq 296 

Portrait of Miss Ann Striker (with signature) . . 304 

From the original painting in possession of Mrs. J. H. 
Maples. 

Portraits of Samuel Adams Lawrence, Esq., and 

HIS Wife Katherine Remsen (with signature) . 310 

From the original paintings in possession of Mrs. Kath- 
erine L. Neumann. 

Portrait of Joel Post, Esq. (with signature) . .316 

Portrait of Hon. Daniel D. Tompkins, Governor 
of New York State and Vice-President of the 
United States (with signature) . . . -328 

From the painting in the collection of the New York 
Historical Society. 

Portrait of Hon. Brockholst Livingston, Asso- 
ciate Justice of the United States Supreme 
Court (with signature) . . . . . . 330 

By courtesy of Miss Ann L. Livingston. 

Portrait of Baron John C. van den Heuvel, 
former Governor of Demarara (with signature), 332 
From the original painting in possession of William 
Henry Bibby, Esq. 

The Clendining Mansion, 1863, at Columbus 
Avenue and 104th Street 336 



xiv Iflluetrationa 

PAGE 

Portrait of Jordan Mott, Esq., 1796 (with signa- 
ture) 346 

From a wax miniature in possession of the author. 

"Mott's Point, ON THE Hudson," 1884 . . . 350 

From an oil painting by W. L. Sonntag, N. A., in posses- 
sion of the author. 

Portrait of M. Hopper Mott, Esq. (with signature) . 352 
From a water-color in possession of the author. 

Portrait of Hon. Isaac L. Varian, Mayor of New 

York City (with signature) 358 

From the original by Inman in the New York City Hall. 

The Havemeyer Mansion, 1864, as it Appeared 
when Used as a Home and School for Soldiers' 
Children 370 

Portrait of Pelatiah Perit, Esq., 20th President 
OF the Chamber of Commerce . . . .376 

Reproduced by the courtesy of Mrs. W. S. Oilman. 

Original Edifice of the Park Presbyterian 
Church, 1854 380 

Portrait of Caspar Meier, Esq. (with signature). 
Founder of Oelrichs & Co 382 

From the original painting in the Chamber of Commerce. 

Portraits of Gerard William Livingston, Esq., 
and his Wife Cornelia de Peyster (with signa- 
ture) 384 

By courtesy of the late Mrs. Charles Havens Hunt. 

Livingston Chart 386 

Portrait of General Garrit Hopper Striker 
(with signature). Captain in the Service of the 

United States, 1812 3go 

From the original painting in possession of the family. 



11llu0tration0 xv 



PAGE 



"ROSEVALE," THE MANSION OF GENERAL STRIKER, 

1864, ON THE Hudson at 53d Street . . . 394 

Portrait of Mrs. Emily Hanaway Stryker (with 
signature) 406 

The Perit Mansion, Bloomingdale Road at 75th 
Street, 1868 418 

Portrait of Duncan Macfarlan, Esq. (with signa- 
ture) 424 

Reproduced by courtesy of his daughter, Mrs. Robert W. 
Thompson. 

Country Seat op Samuel Adams Lawrence, Esq., 
1868 430 

"Willow Bank," Country Seat of Caspar Meier, 
Esq 436 

From a drawing by his grandson, H. C. von Post, Esq. 
The Beekman (Clibborn) house in middle distance. 

Portrait op Eliza Gulick, Wife of Domine van 
Aken, 1862 444 



autboritiee Citeb 

[ The numbers following the titles refer to the pages of this volume \ 

i 

Albany Collections, 126 | 

American, The, 1844, 353 

Archives of the State of New York in the Revolution, 34, 49, 53 

Articles of the Synod of Dort, 241 

Battle of Harlem Heights, Johnston, 41 ■ 

Battles of Trenton and Princeton, The, 119 ; 

Bethune, George W., D.D., note on portrait, 162 ! 

BONAR, HORATIUS, 428 \ 

Calendar of Dutch MSS., 143, 144 ' 

Calendar of Land Papers, 145 

Christian Intelligencer, i860, 1868, 257; 1906, loi; 258, 292, 301, ( 

303, 351, 394 ; 
Clark's Onondaga, 106 
Colonial Historical Documents, 112 
Columbian, The, 1815, 4, 67, 68, 72, 390 

Conveyances, N. Y. Register's Office, 1846, 45; 1847, 47; 1764, 47; ; 

48, 107, III, 148, 150, 155, 161, 167,171, 182, 189, 192, 224, ' 

225, 316, 327, 340, 345 : 

De Kerkboden, 10 1 ; 

Deliverers of Holland, The, Charles, 114 \ 

Description of New York, Hardie, 1827, 170 I 

Documentary History of New York, 145 \ 

Documents relating to the History of Early Colonial Settlements, , 

113 ; 

Domestic Manners of the Americans, 1832, 23 'j 

Dutch Church Records j 

Estates and Rights of the Corporation, Hoffman, 144 \ 

Evacuation Day, 1783, Jas. Peters, 58 I 

Evening Post, 1814, 66, 69; 1816, 183, 184; 1829, 205; 340 j 

From the Battery to Bloomingdale, Despard, 97, 131, 138, 230 ] 

Goede Vrouw of Mana-ha-ta, The, van Rensselaer, 143 i 

xvii \ 



xviii Butborities Citeb 

Grants, N. Y. Comptroller's Office, 1701, 43 

History of the City of New York, Lamb, 48, 113 

History of the City of New York, Valentine, 141, 144 

History of Danbury, Conn., Bailey, 128 

History of the Dutch Republic, Motley, 114 

History of Eighty Years, 162, 210, 239, 243, 245, 249, 266 

History of Harlem, Riker, 74, 104 

History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, 120 

History of New York, Stone, 115 

History of the School of the Collegiate Dutch Church, 108, 109 

History of the Seventh Regiment, Clark, 64 

History of the War of 1812, Guernsey, 60, 75, note on illustration, 

76 
History of Westchester County, Bolton, 320 
Holland Society Year Book, 1900, 115; 1896,117; 1899,127; 1900, 

144; 1896, 145 
Huguenot Emigration to America, 128 
Incorporations of Religious Denominations, 159 
Irving, Washington, i 
Kingston (N. Y.), Freeman, 1885, 255 
Landmark History, Ulman, 73 

Last Days of Knickerbocker Life in New York, Dayton, 13 
Laws of 1779, 304; 1857,2; 1703,1751,4 
London Gazette, 1814, 80 
London Punch, 391 
Manual, Corwin's, 160, 257, 323 

Manual of the Corporation, Valentine, 1847, 46, 47; 107, 323 
Martineau, Harriet, xxiv 
McGown's Pass and Vicinity, Hall, 73, 76 
Memoirs of Dr. Livingston, 162 
Mercantile Advertiser, 1814, 3; 69, 174 
Merchants' Magazine, Hunt, 380 
Minutes of the Common Council, 1804, 86 
National Advocate, 18 14, 61 
N. J. Archives, 158, 317 
New Netherland Register, 113, 116 
N. Y. Gazette, 1829, 205 
N. Y. Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1905, 10; Vol. II., 49; 

117, 127, 301, 368 
N. Y. Herald, 1883, 247; 361 
N. Y. Historical Society Abstracts, 1893, 142 
N. Y. Marriages, 150 
N. Y. Mercury, 1764, 14 
N. Y. Packet, The, 1784, 48 



autboritie0 Citcb xix j 

N. Y. in the Revolution, 2d Ed., 49, 50, 51, 53; supplement, 37 j 

N. Y. Spectator, 1829, 205 j 

N. Y. Sun, 125, 391 ; 

N. Y. Times, 1878, 233; 327 ] 

N. Y. Tribune, 299 , 

Officers and Men of N. J. in the Revolution, Stryker, 50 ,; 

Ordinance of the Board of Health, 1872, 203 3 

Paper by Erastus C. Benedict, 1878, 48 ] 

Paper read before the N. Y. Academy of Medicine, 133 ] 

Picture of New York, Mitchell, 338 ij 

Public Papers of Gov. Tompkins, 73 ] 

Purple, Dr. Edwin R., 324 ■ 

Recollections of Persons and Events, Matthews, 159 3 
Records of New Amsterdam, Court Minutes, 8, 115, 116, 140 

Records of St. Michael's Church, 1814, 26, 46; 203 i 

Records of Trinity Church, 1792, 26 j 

Records of Trinity Corporation, 132 I 

Register's Office, Jamaica, L. I., 118 j 

Reminiscences of an Octogenarian, Haswell, 98 I 

Report on Fortifications, Gen. Swift, 73 j 
Reports, Hastings', 30, 34 

Revised Ordinances of 1866, 203 j 

Royal Gazette, 1780, 46 ] 

Statutes, N. Y., 181 7, 305 ] 

Stevens, Letter of Dr. Alexander H., 134 ] 
Story of an Old Farm, The, 119 
Tour around N. Y., Felix Oldboy, hi 

Wealth and Pedigree of the Wealthy Citizens of N. Y., 125 ] 

Wills, N. Y. Register's Office, 132, 149, 187, 195, 235; 1833, 316; 345. t 

346 1 

Yale Lectures on the Sabbath School, Trumbull, 433 | 



(5uit)e*=lPo6t6 along tbe (Ienturi?*6 patbwai? 



1805 Sept. 

1806 Sept. 6. 
1806 Nov. 3. 



1808 May 21. 

1809 Sept. 16. 

1810 June 

1814 Sept. 26. 

1815 Nov. 24. 

1816 Aug. 4. 

181 7 Feb. 
1 82 1 May 

1829 Oct. I. 

1830 July 8. 

1831 Oct. I. 

1832 May 21. 
1835 May 26. 

1869 March 

1869 Aug. 



28. 



1870 Aug. 

1881 Dec. 

1883 Jan. 

1885 Jan. 

1885 Oct. 

1885 Nov. 

1889 Sept. 



1900 May 3. 

1905 May 28. 

1905 Nov. 12. 

1906 Dec. 16. 
1906 Dec. 23. 
1906 Dec. 30. 



Organization in the Harsen Mansion and election 

of First Consistory. 
Incorporation. 
Site and FIRST HOUSE OF WORSHIP, erected 

at 69-7oth Sts. and Bloomingdale Road, con- 
veyed to Consistory by Jacob Harsen. 
FIRST MINISTER, Rev. Alexander Gunn, 

called. 
"Parsonage Acre " conveyed by Jacob Harsen. 
Construction of parsonage finished. 
New site at 68th Street and Bloomingdale Road 

purchased. 
Gift of realty from Mrs. Barbara Asten. 
SECOND HOUSE OF WORSHIP opened. 
Corporate seal adopted. 
Bequest from Mrs. Johannah Beekman. 
Rev. Dr. Gunn died. 
SECOND MINISTER, Rev. Francis M. Kip, 

called. 
Rev. William Labagh, minister pro-tem. 
THIRD MINISTER, Rev. John AlBurtis, called. 
FOURTH MINISTER, Rev. Enoch van Aken, 

called, 
(ist Sabbath), Final services held in the Second 

House of Worship. 
THIRD HOUSE OF WORSHIP opened on the 

"Parsonage Acre." 
Bequest from General Striker. 
Domine van Aken declared emeritus. 
FIFTH MINISTER, Rev. Carlos Martyn, called. 
Domine van Aken died. 
FOURTH HOUSE OF WORSHIP, at Broadway 

and 68th St., dedicated. 
First regular service held. 
SIXTH MINISTER, Rev. Madison C. Peters, 

called. 
SEVENTH MINISTER, Rev. William C. Stin- 

son, D.D., called. 
Last services held in Fourth House of Worship. 
Corner-stone of FIFTH HOUSE OF WORSHIP 

laid at Bloomingdale Square. 
Service of Dedication. 
Centennial Celebration of Incorporation. 
Unveiling of Pyatt and Gilbert memorial 

windows. 



Untrobuction 

ZTbe life of any community largely centres around 
its first, and for a space, its only church. This natural 
tendency makes it apt, in narrating the history of the 
Church at Harsenville, to fuse it in the amalgam 
of its surroundings. As its locus was settled by Hol- 
landers, their descendants, in conformity with their 
antecedents, selected the ecclesiastical pattern of their 
fatherland. Situated in a portion of the territory to 
which the generic name of Bloomingdale attached, it 
yet had a local significance and at the same time drew 
for support on a much larger section than that known 
as Harsenville. In the century of its existence in that 
location its power for good cannot be estimated, and 
now that it has been deemed wise to remove the congre- 
gation to pastures new — still within the confines of 
Bloomingdale — may the influence which has heretofore 
radiated from it increase and multiply mightily! The 
new site on the field of the Battle of Harlem Heights 
is alone an incentive to aggressive work. 

This section of the island has had only desultory and 
disconnected mention in the history of the city. The 
distinction of its name — so beautiful in its meaning — 
has even been denied it, while every one is familiar 
with such local appellations as Chelsea, Greenwich, 
Yorkville, Harlem, and Manhattanville, no one of 



xxiv •flntro^uctlon 

which for an instant compares with the charm asso- 
ciated with the designation appHed to this West Side 
territory by the early Dutch inhabitants. Blooming- 
dale — a vale of flowers — remains a title of singular 
descriptive beauty and as such deserves to live, It has 
been with reason described as the watering-place of 
the ^lite of New York, the resort of all distinguished 
strangers from abroad, and the Newport of that part 
of the city's history extending from the period of Dutch 
farms to its metamorphosis into metropolitan grand- 
eur. And then the Hudson! Never was there a more 
beautiful shore. For the most part bold and rocky, 
here and there a sandy beach in some little cove was 
encountered, shaded by branching chestnuts and ma- 
ples, upon the shelving sands of which the ripples made 
music most inviting to the bather on a midsummer day. 
Harriet Martineau has said that of all the water craft 
she had ever seen none were so graceful as the sloops 
that sailed its waters. The march of modern improve- 
ment, in the guise of the railroad, swept away at one 
blow the rural beauty of this part of the island. 

As a family connection of each of the four founders 
of the Church, and a scion in the fifth and fourth genera- 
tions respectively of its first elders, the author wishes 
to express pleasure at his selection by the present Con- 
sistory to write this history of the organization. He 
feels that he is especially equipped for the occasion. 
For some fifteen years he has been engaged in an effort 
to preserve the history, tradition, and local color of 
old Bloomingdale. This volume is launched in com- 
memoration of the centenary of the incorporation 
of the Society, with the hope that, as the text more 
than sufficiently covers the subject of the title, it may 
induce old residents to send him additional data that 



flntrobuction xxv 

an exhaustive history of the District, now in prepara- 
tion, may be pubHshed soon, the accuracy of which 
will crown the result. Portraits of many of the resi- 
dents and pictures of most of the buildings, many 
of them dating from the i8th century, have been 
gathered, together with maps of farms, old lanes, and 
watercourses. Beginning at Union Square the inten- 
tion is to follow the line of the Bloomingdale Road to 
147th Street, where it merged in the road to Kings- 
bridge. Those of us who have been familiar with and 
loved Bloomingdale since birth, trust that the contem- 
plated work will revive interest in the restoration of 
a name which is unique, euphonic, and historic. 

Where so many have lent assistance in the prepara- 
tion of this publication it is invidious to draw distinc- 
tion, yet it is hard to refrain from thanking Mrs, 
Florence E. Youngs, Assistant Librarian of the N. Y. 
Genealogical and Biographical Society, Robert H. Kelby, 
Librarian of the N. Y. Historical Society, Bingman 
Versteeg, Librarian of the Holland Society, George R. 
Schieffelin, John Jasper, former President of the Board 
of Education, George Wilson, Secretary of the Chamber 
of Commerce, and the four survivors of Domine van 
Aken's pastorate, Mrs. Emily Hanaway Stryker, widow 
of Rev. Dr. Peter Stryker, Mrs. Ann Agnes Dana, 
Mrs. Jane Cozine Dorland, and Mrs. Marion Bissland 
Carss. Especially are acknowledgments made to 
David Thomson of Foster & Thomson, for repeated 
acts of kindness. Thanks are also due to Dr. Stinson, 
pastor, and to members of the present Consistory. 

The Dutch colors — blue, white, and orange — embel- 
lish the cover. 

It should be added that this work frankly amounts 
to more than a history of the Bloomingdale Reformed 



xxvi Untrobuction 

Church. The broadest kind of an historical and genea- 
logical background has been taken, extending over the 
entire region of the Bloomingdale of old. 

H. S. M. 

City of New York, 

Borough of Manhattan, 
June, 1906, 



After being arrayed in battle panoply for five years 
in an effort to have the name affixed to some location 
within its confines, it is with unfeigned pleasure that 
the announcement is made that the Board of Aldermen 
passed an ordinance which was approved by Mayor 
McClellan and became a law on the 9th day of January, 
1907, designating the triangular plot at the junction of 
Broadway, West End Avenue, io6th and 107th Streets, 
"Bloomingdale Square." 



^be mew l^ork of Oestetda^ 



3Bloominat)ale 

Hit the good old days, sometime after the settlement 
of this island by our Holland ancestors, the middle 
west section thereof received from the place of that 
name near Haarlem, in Holland, the name "Bloemen- 
dael." Its earliest history is lost in tradition. Indian 
trails led over and across it. Where the tepees were 
located, how the wild creatures which prowled through 
its woods disappeared, and how and when the terri- 
tory, densely covered with the denizens of the forest, 
became denuded, we are left to conjecture. At a 
later date its pastoral scenes were apostrophized 
by Irving, whose magic pen has immortalized the 
"River of the Mountains," as "a sweet and rural 
valley, beautiful with many a bright wild flower, 
refreshed by many a pure streamlet, and enlivened 
here and there by a delectable little Dutch cottage, 
sheltered under some sloping hill and almost buried 
in embowering trees." The derivation of the name 
is in itself descriptive of the territory to which it was 



2 ^be 1Rew l^ork of IJesterba^ 

applied. Even in our day it was " a vale of flow- 
ers," the equivalent in the vernacular of the Dutch 
designation. The extent of territory covered by the 
appellation has ever been a mooted question; such 
authorities as mention the subject at all differ essen- 
tially. We know to a certainty that the road which 
gave access much later to the locality ran its length 
through "the Bloomingdale District" from present 
23d Street and Broadway and was known as the 
Bloomingdale Road. It wound o'er hill and dale, 
over a picturesque country, passing beautiful country- 
seats and farmhouses, making an ensemble which vied 
with the splendors of the lordly Hudson lapping its 
shores. Let us trace the name by successive stages 
as applied to territory below 59th Street, at which point 
many authorities limit it. An old resident and occu- 
pant of a homestead which stood until 1897 at 54th 
Street and the river, the author can testify that letters 
to his family as early as the end of the i8th century 
were addressed to Bloomingdale. The blocks between 
55 th and 57 th Streets and Eighth and Ninth Avenues 
constituted the original Bloomingdale Square and con- 
tained somewhat over eighteen acres. It was closed 
on the establishment of Central Park, by Chapter 73, 
Laws of 1857. The abstract of title of the Wm. L. 
Rose tract, on the east side of the road between 46th 
and 47th Streets, denominates it as lying in Blooming- 
dale. Rose's name appears attached to the articles of 
incorporation of the Church as the witness. He had 
other plots in the locus in quo and was the husband of 
Charlotte, the sister of Mrs. Jacob Coles Mott. A part 
of \^lfert Webber's farm, hereinafter described, which 
John Jacob Astor and William Cutting acquired under 
foreclosure in 1803, the southern boundary of which 



Bloomin^bale 3 

was south of 43 d Street on the Road and extended to 
the river at a point north of 48th Street, was platted 
thereafter. On the map it is entitled "The farm at 
Bloomingdale," belonging to those individuals. Por- 
tions of it fronting on Verdant Lane became the prop- 
erty of Colonel Anthony Post and Francis Feitner, 
mentioned hereafter. In the Mercantile Advertiser of 
Dec. 10, 1 814, appeared this advertisement: 

TO LET for one or more years 
The Farm at Bloomingdale, near the four 
mile stone, known by the name of Eden's 
Farm, consisting of about 22 acres of Land, 
on which are two Dwelling Houses and 2 
barns, and to which may be added 2 pieces of 
pasture land of about ten acres each. Apply 
to 

John Jacob Astor, corner Pine 
& Pearl-Street. 

This farm was owned by Medcef Eden, an English- 
man, and extended as far south as 41st Street. It was 
acquired by Astor under foreclosure in 1 803 , for $25 ,000 , 
The prevalent notion that this new centre of the city's 
hotel and theatre district was ever known as the Long 
Acre Farm is fallacious. The mural painting over the 
bar in the Hotel Astor labelled with this name tends 
to foster false history. The name Long Acre grew 
into usage after Brewster & Company removed from 
Broome Street to 47th Street, in 1872. Other firms in 
the same line of business followed them to the new loca- 
tion, whereupon one of the trade publications compared 
New York's carriage building community to Long Acre 
Street in London, where the leading firms of the busi- 
ness are centred, and termed the locality, which at that 
time was without name, "New York's Long Acre." 



This designation seemed apt and was finally adopted 
by the authorities. 

The high eminence at present Greeley and Herald 
Squares gave the name of Strawberry Hill to territory 
thereabouts. When the Institution for the Blind was 
removed in October, 1833, to the entire block between 
33d and 34th Streets, Eighth and Ninth Avenues, it 
was to Strawberry Hill that it came. This advertise- 
ment from the Columbian of January 6, 1815, brings the 
Bloomingdale name to a point farther south and as low 
as we have yet been able to prove : 

A STRAY STEER 
was found on the premises of the subscriber 
on the 5th of August last. The owner may 
have the said steer by proving property and 
paying all reasonable charges. 

Isaac Varian Jun. 

Bloomingdale — 3 mile stone. 

This stone was located on the Old Post Road just 
north of its junction with the Bloomingdale Road at a 
spot about opposite 24th Street, and measured the 
third mile from Federal Hall in Wall Street. 

"The Road to Bloomingdale," the continuation of 
Bowery or New York Lane, began at 14th Street and 
Fourth Avenue, crossed diagonally Union Square, and 
proceeded northerly to its junction with the Old Post 
Road, which swerved northeasterly across present 
Madison Square, and followed much of the bed of Third 
Avenue to Harlem. The Bloomingdale Road was 
opened under the Act of June 19, 1703, as stated in 
the preamble of the Act of November 25, 1751, which 
provided for keeping said road in repair. Therein it is 
mentioned that the road had been laid out of the 



BloominGt>ale 5 

breadth of four rods from the house of John Horn (23d 
Street and Fifth Avenue), through the " Bloomingdale 
District" to the house of Adrian Hooglandt (115th 
Street and Riverside Drive), terminating at the "bam 
of Nicholas de Peyster" (about 11 6th Street). Prior 
to the opening of this road, which meant so much to 
the district it traversed, the only means of access from 
the city seems to have been by water, the great natural 
highway to the region. There were a number of lanes 
which deflected from the Post Road to distinctive sec- 
tions of the West Side, some of the more important being 
Hopper's Lane in the fifties, Harsenville Road in the 
seventies, and the Cross Road to Harlem, afterwards 
Apthorp Lane, in the nineties. All of those named 
were opened many years after the Bloomingdale Road. 
In the process of evolution by which New York has 
reached its proud position as the second city of the 
world, it has come about that the farm on which " the 
house of John Horn ' ' was situated and its vicinage has 
become the retail centre and the best known and most 
conspicuous locality of the metropolis. Its situation 
in the heart of the city, its fabulous wealth in hotels, 
amusement and business structures, the beautiful 
Madison Square Park which lies opposite, the width 
of the plaza between them, and the crossing of two of 
the main arteries of travel, all have served to call atten- 
tion to this section. The national and local characters 
to be met on that swirling centre of trade and traffic — 
the junction of 23d Street and Fifth Avenue — accen- 
tuates this feature, and the political meetings held in 
the neighboring hotels, with the conduct and contest 
of parties fought out thereabouts, have focussed the 
thought of the nation for many years on this terri- 
tory. The vast assemblages which concentrate here 



6 Zhc IRew IJorft of IJesterba^ 

on occasions have become a part of metropolitan 
existence. 

Horn acquired title to the tract in 1716 in conjunc- 
tion with his brother-in-law Cornelius Webber, the 
latter' s sister Rachel having married the former three 
years previously. The house, which became the start- 
ing point of the Bloomingdale Road, was located be- 
tween 2 2d and 23d Streets, in the present centre of 
Fifth Avenue, on the exact spot where the " Isle of 
Safety" has been placed, and immediately west of the 
Flatiron Building. It became later the residence of 
Christopher Mildeberger, a merchant in the Swamp, 
who had married Margaret Horn in 1808 and removed 
to this dwelling in 1820 from Vandewater Street. Ven- 
erable and stately sycamore trees lined the then country 
road, and also divided the farm from the house plot. 
Fifth Avenue was ordered opened in 1837, and the same 
year the park called Madison was declared a public 
square. In 1839 Mildeberger petitioned that his house 
should be allowed to remain on its site until the actual 
necessity arose for its removal, and by resolution of the 
Common Council, it was permitted to stay until 
November ist. The homestead was removed to the 
northwest corner of the avenue and street where the 
Fifth Avenue Hotel stands, and was used as a tavern 
known as Madison Cottage under lease to Corporal 
Thompson. It became a noted resort and half-way 
house for turfmen and other sporting characters under 
the management of this boniface and remained on this 
corner for thirteen years (183 9- 1852), when it was 
superseded by Franconi's Hippodrome. 

The farms which collectively came to be known as 
Bloomingdale were settled by Hollanders. They 
stretched some four miles along both sides of the road, 



(^RE/IT MILL DIST. 




Blooming^ale 7 

which in 1795 was extended from 115th to 147th 
Streets, where it merged in the Kingsbridge Road. In 
this territory were a number of hamlets, one at the 
Great Kill, the longest and deepest stream which in- 
dented the west shore of the island, the outlet of which 
was at 42 d Street. The settlement at this spot ex- 
tended into the fifties. Harsenville was located in the 
seventies, Striker's Bay in the nineties, and Blooming- 
dale centred at looth Street. Here was the nucleus 
of a village which received this name for want of a 
better one, and in which the Bloomingdale Asylum 
was the main raison d'etre. Each of these was a dis- 
tinct locality. Up to the opening of the Civil War 
there was yet a semblance of village life therein. 

XLbc (5reat mu 

Branches of the Great Kill rose as far north as 58th 
Street and the road, as far east as 48th Street and 
Sixth Avenue, where there was a lake, and as far south 
as 39th Street east of Seventh Avenue. Two larger 
ponds were on this branch between 36th and 38th 
Streets near this avenue. The dominating feature in 
this neighborhood was the "Great Kill Farm," located 
near the creek's mouth and on the north side thereof. 
It was owned in 17 14 by Matthys Adolphus Hoppe, the 
ancestor of Andrew Hopper, an original deacon of the 
Church at Harsenville. There was located the house 
of Matthew Hopper. His sons advertised it for sale 
in 1786 and John Leake, the founder of Leake and 
Watts Orphan Home, a distinctive Bloomingdale insti- 
tution, purchased it that year for ;^iooo. He dwelt 
on an adjoining farm which he called " The Hermitage," 
and both these properties were inherited by his grand- 
nephews, the Norton brothers. Most of the property 



8 ^be IRew l?ork of IJesterbap 

in the hamlet contiguous to this stream was owned 
by the Hopper family and its connections. Matthys 
Adolphus, the settler, was the youngest of the four 
children of Andries Hoppe, the pioneer, and Gertje Hen- 
dricks, his wife, who reached this country from Holland 
in 1652. He lived but six years after his arrival and 
yet his name is conspicuous in the records of the time. 
He owned a number of lots in the lower city and lived 
on the east side of Broadway, north of Beaver Street. 
Just before his death in December, 1658, he entered 
into a contract to purchase Bronck's Land (Morrisania) , 
from which agreement his widow sought relief on the 
ground that the owner, one Stoll, could not deliver it 
free from Indian claims. The grave and learned seig- 
neurs, the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens, one 
of the members of which was Jacobus Strijcker, the 
ancestor of another of the original elders of the Har- 
senville Church, declared the title merchantable. So 
Mrs. Hoppe or Hoppen (in both of which ways the 
good dame spelled her name) owned the whole of 
Bronck's Land, five hundred acres in extent, by deed 
of record dated 1662. This property was eventually 
patented by Governor Andros to Colonel Lewis Morris, 
second Proprietor of Morrisania, in 1676. 

The "Hopper Farm," which has become famous in 
legal annals, as confined within city streets, stretched 
from 48th to 55th Streets, both east and west of the 
Bloomingdale Road, lying diagonally across the city 
and along the river from 50th to 55th Streets. The 
homestead of Matth's Adolphus Hoppe was located 
on the north side of Hopper's Lane, the only way 
through the farm to the river, just west of the Albany 
apartment house at 51st Street and Broadway. His 
son Johannes, known in the records as John Hopper 




REMNANT OF THE HOPPER BURIAL GROUND, 1884 
Southwest corner of Ninth Avenue and 50th Street 



16loomlng^aIe 9 

the Elder, inherited this property. He was a member 
of Captain Gerard Stuyvesant's company, of N. Y. 
MiUtia, and served as Lieutenant in General Harmer's 
campaign against the Indians. He married, in 1728, 
Maria van Orden, and their seven children were born in 
the homestead. A remnant of the family burial-ground 
was to be seen until 1885 at the southwest corner of 
Ninth Avenue and 50th Street, in which interments took 
place until 1840, the last being that of an old negro 
slave by whom the members of the last generation had 
been nursed. 

John Hopper the Elder, besides the house he built 
for his son Matthew heretofore mentioned, constructed 
one at 50th Street and Broadway for his son Andrew, 
and another at the terminus of the Lane (53d Street 
and the river) for his son John the Younger, who was 
born in 1734, and whose first wife was Wyntie Dyck- 
man. Their only child, Maria, became the first wife of 
James Striker of Striker's Bay. Hopper's second wife 
was Sarah Cozine, and he as well as Sarah and her 
mother Catharine, widow of Balaam Johnson Cozine, 
were buried in the Hopper plot. He devised his farm 
to his grandchildren for life, viz. : Ann Striker, Winifred, 
wife of Jordan Mott, and General Garrit Hopper Striker. 

Another residence, "Mott's Point," the Homestead, 
which John Hopper the Younger put up, was situated 
at the river's edge, and built in 1796 for his grand- 
daughter, whose marriage was then in contemplation. 
The rocky promontory on which it was located had 
previously been the site of the family fishing, bathing, 
and boating houses. For this was a celebrated spot 
for bass and crabs and the rocks were encrusted with 
oysters which grew to perfection. The Mott family 
used the place as a country-seat until 1829, when they 



lo ^be IRevp IPork of IPesterba^ 

removed there permanently. Seven sons were born to 
them, the youngest being baptized in the Bloomingdale 
Church. Here, also, lived their grandmother, Anne 
Coles, the wife of Isaac Mott, a Quaker merchant, whose 
privilege it was to bear a part in the contest for Amer- 
ican independence. There is preserved in her family 
a tablecloth which some officers gave her as a grateful 
memento of her charitable course in ministering to the 
wants of the cruelly treated captives who fell into the 
British clutches. (Vide sketch in N. Y. G. and B. Record 
of January and July, 1905.) The family attended 
service at the Church and a number of the sons sang in 
the choir. 

The house of John Horn, Jr., whose mother was 
Jacomyntie (Jemima) Hopper, is still standing on the 
edge of the Lane at 51st Street and Broadway. It is 
now occupied as a saloon and was known until lately 
as the "Old Homestead," so-called from its proximity 
to the original homestead. The Cozine and Hege- 
man families (who intermarried) had houses in the 
present bed of Eighth Avenue, between 54th and 
55th Streets. No pictures of these houses are extant. 
Sarah Swanser, the daughter of Sarah Cozine, married, 
as a second husband, John Stake, and his house was 
located within the lines of old Bloomingdale Square. 
Among the individuals connected with the Church who 
lived in this section should be mentioned the Webbers, 
Posts, and Hardmans. 

There were a number of isolated homes located be- 
tween the Great Kill section and Harsenville, notably 
the Havemeyer place on the west side of present Colum- 
bus Circle, and the Cargill, Ward, Nash, and Low 
houses, all of which were surrounded by more or less 
extensive grounds. These were all on the great Somer- 



Bloomina^ale n 

indyck farm, and were acquired from heirs of John 
Somerindyck, who bid it in at the sale held by the Com- 
missioners of Forfeiture after the Revolution. The 
Havemeyer mansion later served as a hospital and home 
for disabled Union soldiers. The Cargill seat occupied 
the block between 60 th and 6ist Streets and Ninth and 
Tenth Avenues, which was bought by David Cargill 
in 18 19, for $3500. He was a member of the firm of 
Cargill & Sonntag, No. 11 Maiden Lane, importers of 
musical instruments. The house stood relatively 
nearer to Tenth Avenue. In i860, title to the property 
became vested in Algernon S. Jarvis; consideration, 
$135,000. 

Lebbeus B. Ward, the mechanician, lived in a hand- 
some Gothic cottage, at the northwest corner of 59th 
Street and Tenth Avenue, the trap rock of which it was 
constructed having been brought from his native State 
of New Jersey. He carried on business at the foot of 
the street at the river's edge, where he founded the 
"Hamersley Forge," the first establishment in this 
country fitted with furnaces and steam hammers of 
sufficient size to manufacture shafts and cranks for 
steamer and steamboat use. Here was forged the 
"Peacemaker," the famous gun which was invented 
by Ericsson and which was mounted on the 
U. S. S. Princeton. At its trial on the Potomac 
River in 1844, it was very successful, but later at a final 
discharge it exploded, killing two secretaries of Tyler's 
Cabinet. The President himself narrowly escaped. 
It is proper to add that Ward disapproved of the 
method of construction of this gun, which was much 
larger than had theretofore been used in the navy. 

The Nash house now forms a portion of the New 
York Infant Asylum located at the northeast corner 



12 Zbe 1Rew l?orR of I3e6tert)ai? 

of 6 1 St Street and Tenth Avenue. It was built 
by Daniel D. Nash, the auctioneer, who bought the 
site in 1848. John Low purchased land on the west 
side of Tenth Avenue, between 59th and 64th Streets, 
in 1819, at which time he was cashier of the Union 
Bank at 1 7 Wall Street. " Locust Grove," which name 
dignified the mansion he built near the latter street, 
was a substantial stone structure of two stories and 
attic. It was surrounded by a dense forest and Low's 
woods were famous picnic-grounds even after they 
were cut off from the water by the advent of the rail- 
road. Great quantities of wild pigeons consorted there, 
and hunting was superb until one day the birds disap- 
peared. The Low house and some of the contiguous 
land was purchased in 185 1 by John Tirburce Gregoire 
de Milhau, a San Domingan refugee, who occupied 
it till 1858. It became a beer and dance hall later, a 
fate which befell so many of the fine country-seats of 
Bloomingdale. 

The hamlet which grew up around the Harsen home- 
stead, to which the name " Harsen ville " attached, will 
be treated extensively in another chapter. The terri- 
tory covered by this appellation was composed of the 
Somerindyke and Dyckman farms and a portion of the 
Apthorp tract. Generally speaking it stretched from 
59th to 80th Streets, an extensive part of which prop- 
erty was taken for Central Park. 

Striker's asag 

The section of Bloomingdale which received the dis- 
tinctive name of Striker's Bay extended to 99th Street. 
Gerrit Striker, the grandson of Jacobus Strijcker, one 
of the magistrates of the original Court of New Amster- 
dam, assumed the method of spelling his name which 



Bloomin^bale 13 

has been retained by the Manhattan branch of the fam- 
ily, and differentiates it from the rest of the clan. He 
settled at the head of a "certain cove," located at 
the foot of present 96th Street, in 1764, and named the 
mansion he built there "Striker's Bay." This prop- 
erty descended to his only child, James, who lived the 
life of a country gentleman on his ancestral estate. 
During the Revolution it was in the occupation of the 
enemy. After his death the house became a tavern. 
"Jogging down a steep lane," says Dayton's Knicker- 
bocker Life in New York, " we alight at a secluded little 
snuggery called Striker's Bay, one of the most unpre- 
tending yet attractive houses on the drive. It was in 
a nook sheltered from all points, save from the west, 
where the fine view of the Hudson amply repaid many 
a visitor." In 1841 Francis was the landlord. During 
his proprietorship he perfected his celebrated life-boat 
— the precursor of later designs — ^which invention made 
him both famous and rich. The years of his tenantcy 
were memorable for the number of noted personages 
who assembled there. Poe and his child-wife, Virginia, 
spent the summers of 1843 and 1844 in a cottage near 
by which stood at 84th Street. While he resided in 
Bloomingdale he wrote that notable poem, The Raven, 
and it was his habit to wander down the declivity 
to the shores of the bay. Often did he occupy a seat 
on Francis's piazza to enjoy the prospect and commune 
with his friends and familiars, of whom the names of 
Woodward, Morris, Willis, English, the author of Ben 
Bolt, and the lawyer-poet, William Ross Wallace, are 
recalled. Trees of tremendous girth and height were 
on the ground, one of which, "a grand old elm," in- 
spired Morris to compose that noble lyric. Woodman, 
Spare that Tree. In 1837, wrote the poet, he caught 



14 Z\)c IRew Uorft of ipester^a^ 

a tenant of the property in the act of cutting it down 
for firewood. "The old gentleman" with whom he 
was walking asked the iconoclast what it was worth 
when felled, and ascertaining that ten dollars would 
prevent its destruction, paid the price and exacted an 
agreement in writing that it should be saved. We 
have Morris's testimony that in 1862 it was still 
standing. 

Under the tavern's successive bonifaces it became 
a noted resort for excursions, target-shootings, etc. 
There was a dock and small station of the Hudson 
River Railroad on the grounds. The lawn fronting the 
river made a fine dancing floor, and at the rear of the 
house were found the targets. A well-known clergy- 
man is authority for the statement that here was a scene 
of sylvan beauty unsurpassed, and that he had never in 
his long life been in so entrancing a spot. The property 
was sold in June, 1856, and the house was destroyed by 
fire in the early sixties, when Robert Pennoyer was its 
landlord. 

Situated in the neighborhood of which this house 
was a nucleus, were many country-seats. The Apthorp 
mansion is certainly the most noted — as it is of Revo- 
lutionary renown. The N. Y. Mercury of Monday, 
May 21, 1764, gives an account of a quarrel among 
the workmen engaged in the construction of the 
house, during which one of the participants was killed. 
Charles Ward Apthorp was one of his Majesty's Coun- 
cil under Governor Tryon, a leading lawyer of the city, 
and a man of social distinction in colonial times. He 
called the Bloomingdale property "Elmwood," and 
here he dispensed lavish hospitality. He died in the 
mansion in 1797, and his remains were laid in the family 
vault in Trinity churchyard. Ten children survived 



BIoonllnG^aIc i5 

him. The building was beautiful in its architecture. 
Its recessed portico with Corinthian columns and pil- 
asters and high-arched doorway commanded the admir- 
ation of architects even to the time of its destruction. 
The massive solid door led into a spacious hall, which, 
in the days of its builder, was used as a ball-room. On 
both sides of the hall, which extended through the 
house, were large rooms, and up the broad staircase 
chambers were found fit for the distinguished guests 
who visited there. The plot containing the mansion 
was sold to William Jauncey, an Englishman and rich 
merchant, in 1799, with a right of way in Apthorp Lane 
leading from the Road to the river. The Elmwood 
estate was bequeathed in 1828 to Herman Jauncey 
Thorne, the son of Jane Mary Jauncey, niece and 
adopted child of William Jauncey, who had intermar- 
ried with Herman Thorne in 18 10. Their son, who had 
dropped the surname Thorne, died before coming of 
age, by being thrown from his horse in Paris. Colonel 
Thorne, a man of very marked personality, with a strik- 
ingly handsome face, began his career in the navy. 
He spent many years in Paris, where a chronicler in 
1836 described that he lived in a style of princely splen- 
dor that eclipsed all rivalry, to the great astonishment 
of the French, who failed to comprehend where an 
American had acquired such tastes. Old-timers recall 
how he drove out of Apthorp Lane in his splendid Eng- 
lish coach and four, the admiration of the neighborhood. 
The property was maintained by Colonel Thorne as his 
country-seat until his death in 1859, when the lots were 
platted and sold in i860 at the Merchants' Exchange. 
In its degenerate days the property was known as Elm 
Park, a beer and dance resort. The Board of Street 
Openings sealed its doom when 91st Street was ordered 



1 6 Ebe 1Flew IJorft of ^cetcvt>a^ 

opened and it was torn down in 1888. St. Agnes 's 
Chapel now occupies the site. 

After passing Burnham's famous resort in the van 
den Heuvel mansion at 79th Street, of which more anon, 
the Bloomingdale Road passed down a gentle declivity 
with occasionally a superb river view. To the right, 
at about 84th Street, there was a pond, fabled in the 
vicinity to be of unfathomable depth and known to be 
well stocked with goldfish. This was a favorite skating 
ground of the Bloomingdale youth in the winter season, 
while the capture of the fish with a pin-hook furnished 
an endless source of amusement to the boys in summer. 
Nearly opposite to this pond was the entrance to what 
had been in its day one of the finest country-seats on 
this side of the Atlantic. A large slice of the farm on 
which it stood, belonging at one time to Etienne de 
Lancey, was acquired in 1800 by John McVickar, a 
merchant prince of the end of the i8th and the be- 
ginning of the 19th century. Built originally by 
him, the mansion had afterwards become the residence 
of the John H. Rowland family. The grounds extended 
from the Road to the river and covered above sixty 
acres of land, beautifully wooded and with a high rocky 
shore. The house, which was approached by a winding 
drive some half a mile in length, was a large square 
mansion, standing close to the river's bank. Unfortu- 
nately the line of 86th Street passed through it and 
when that street was opened, at what the event proved 
to have been an unnecessarily early date, the building 
had to be moved from its original position. This was a 
death-blow to the grandeur of the place. It stood until 
the fall of 1906 at the northeast corner of 86th Street 
and Riverside Drive, having successively been used as 
a boys' school kept by the Rev. Mr. Douglass, then a 




»r^ 








BIoom!na^alc i7 

summer boarding-house, afterward, with some addi- 
tional structures, the House of Mercy, a well-known 
and most beneficent charity, and up to the time of its 
demolition a portion of the Misses Ely's school for young 
ladies. 

Opposite to the entrance of Elm Park, Apthorp Lane 
led to the residences of Horace Waldo and Richard L. 
Schieffelin adjoining each other on the river, and to the 
Weyman place. The house occupied by the Waldos 
and located between 90 th and 91st Streets was known 
as "Oak Villa" and was built as a country-seat by 
Judge Brockholst Livingston. In a letter addressed 
to his wife in 1806, from Geneva, N. Y., while "on cir- 
cuit" he mentions the residence by name and adds he 
missed "the thousand attractions of Bloomingdale." 
The name he bestowed upon it was appropriate for 
even now several large oaks are to be seen on its site 
within the boundaries of Riverside Park. Mrs. Horace 
Waldo bought the place in 1837, and she in turn sold 
it to William H. Paine, he who introduced Italian opera 
to New York in 1850. Cyrus Clark acquired the man- 
sion in 1866. Judge Livingston was the son of William 
Livingston, Governor of New Jersey, and grandson of 
Philip Livingston, second Lord of the Manor in Colum- 
bia County. He was a Colonel in the Revolutionary 
Army, an incorporator in 181 9 of the Bank for Savings, 
the first institution of its kind in the State, an officer 
of the " Old First " Presbyterian Church, a Judge of 
the Supreme Court, and finally a member of the Fed- 
eral Supreme Bench. 

In 1803, William Weyman and Jacob Coles Mott bid 
in, at sheriff's sale, the land on which they both built 
houses. Having divided the purchase, Mott built the 
residence near the river's bank which was subsequently 



1 8 ^be IRew l?orft of l?e0tert)a^ 

owned by Schieffelin, and in which at later dates Gen- 
eral Daniel E. Sickles and William H. Rowland lived. 
The Weyman house stood between 93d and 94th 
Streets. It was called "Mount Aubrey," because of a 
beautiful mound situated to the south of the residence, 
on which grew tall trees. Weyman came from England. 
The house burned down about 1877. Just beyond 
these houses, and separated from Striker's Bay by a 
rivulet running through a ravine and which divided 
the places, stood a large house with lofty columns, 
which was built and occupied by "that aristocrat of 
the period," Dr. Valentine Mott. He became the emi- 
nent surgeon of his day and earned from the renowned 
Sir Astley Cooper this eulogium: " He has performed 
more of the great operations than any man living, or 
that ever did live." His services were eagerly sought, 
and his name attached to any institution contributed 
in large measure to place its reputation on a high plane. 
His trip around the world, during which he was re- 
ceived with acclaim, was undertaken in 1837. On his 
return he published a volume of travels dealing largely 
with the progress of surgery in foreign parts. He 
bought eleven acres on the west side of the Road in 
1833, lying between 93d and 96th Streets, which had 
belonged to Frederick de Peyster. He lived here for 
some three months during the summer, driving to his 
office daily. "The well-known gig of this world- 
renowned surgeon," writes a contemporary, "whose 
neat Quaker garb, highly polished white top-boots, and 
low-crowned, broad-brimmed, well-brushed beaver, were 
as familiar to all classes as the commonest necessity 
of daily life ; for all, rich and poor, young and old, felt 
respect and love for Valentine Mott." He died in 1865. 
In 1868 the mansion, which stood in the way of the 




KE DIS. 



BIoomingt)ale 19 

contemplated Boulevard, was removed to a site nearer 
the river, and in 1887 the Children's Fold of St. 
Michael's Parish occupied it. 

Passing the Clarkson house for the nonce, we next 
come to the former residence of Dr. Abraham Valen- 
tine Williams, the resident Bloomingdale physician and 
oracle of the neighborhood. He was at once a guide, 
philosopher, and friend to all who needed his assistance. 
Fully capable of administering spiritual as well as phys- 
ical consolation, he even rendered legal assistance to 
his patients when necessary. A well-known lawyer, a 
former resident of the district, vouches for the latter 
fact from having had occasion to examine professionally 
a will drawn by him at the bedside of a dying patient, 
long after the Doctor had passed away beloved and 
respected by all. "It is but justice to add," he says, 
"that the document would, in legal parlance, hold 
water." 

That portion of the territory yclept 

JBIoominddale IDillage 

comprised a collection of some twenty houses or there- 
abouts along the Road at looth Street. Among them 
were to be found the grocer, the shoemaker, the village 
smithy, and such other local occupations as the residents 
required at so great a distance from the city. As the 
built up portion thereof reached and absorbed the 
farms, the limits of Bloomingdale gradually receded 
northward until the district surrounding Bloomingdale 
village alone kept alive the name. Its application to 
Bloomingdale Square bids fair to fix it to this locality 
in perpetuity. Here were located, also, a number of 
fine places. Contiguous to the Striker tract on the 
north was the property of Humphrey Jones, containing 



20 ^be 1Wew l?ork of IPeaterba^ 

over 109 acres. The house stood between loist and 10 2d 
Streets near the river. When he died, he left his realty 
and " The Homestead " in which he lived to his son and 
heir, Nicholas Jones, whose residence was just north 
of io6th Street, west of Eleventh Avenue. The entire 
property was sold by the sheriff in 1786 to John Jones 
for ;^23oo. Twelve years later, 1798, Robert T. Kem- 
ble purchased it for $25,000 and resided in the mansion 
for some years. He was obliged in 181 1 to deed the 
premises to Charles Wilkes and Thomas Cooper, who, 
as trustees, were to pay his debts from the proceeds of 
its sale. These conveyed it and the "Mansion house" 
the same year to William Rogers for $29,900, reserving 
therefrom the lane leading from the Bloomingdale Road 
which paralleled present io2d Street and lay just south 
of it. Rogers died in 181 8, devising his property to his 
wife, Ann, and it was known for years as the "Ann 
Rogers House." She survived her husband fifteen 
years (1833) and left her real estate to her grandchil- 
dren, the issue of her only child, Sarah, who married 
William Heywood, one of whom, Ann M., was the wife 
of Francis B. Cutting. He and said Heywood, as exe- 
cutors, had the lands surveyed and mapped in 1834, and 
certain parts thereof were sold thereafter, the proceeds 
of which to November i, 1835, amounted to over 
$716,000. William P. Furniss acquired a plot along the 
southern boundary of the tract and thereon he con- 
structed the mansion with Corinthian columns, sur- 
rounded by acacias, now standing on the block between 
99th and looth Streets, West End Avenue and River- 
side Drive. One of its most characteristic features is 
an oval dining-room, covering most of the ground floor, 
which was in former years the scene of many banquets. 
At Furniss's death in 187 1, the plot was devised to his 



Bloomlnobale 21 

wife and six children, share and share alike, and the 
house with the land surrounding it still remains in the 
family. It is now occupied by a colony of artists. In 

1842, Cutting and his wife, in a suit against the other 
heirs, prayed for consent to sell "several pieces or par- 
cels of property of the said testatrix situated in differ- 
ent quarters and of no great value" yet remaining to 
the estate. Sale thereof was effected September 4, 

1843, when Furniss bought additional property north 
of his holding. 

The second and only other church in the Blooming- 
dale of old was formed in 1806 (incorporated 1807) at 
a meeting of families professing the Episcopal faith. 
At that time there was no church of that persuasion 
between "St. Mark's in the Bouwerie" and St. John's 
at Yonkers. The first edifice of St. Michael's was a 
comely neat structure of wood with a spire and belfry 
and stood on a plot equal to eight city lots, on the east 
side of the Road at 99th Street. The Rev. John Henry 
Hobart, afterwards Bishop of this diocese, was the first 
Rector, with Robert T. Kemble and William Rogers, 
wardens, and among the vestry such local names as 
Michael Hogan, Jacob Schieffelin, and Isaac Jones. The 
small churchyard was early filled, whereupon a piece 
of ground was set apart for interment purposes on 103d 
Street, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues, wherein 
the last authorized burial was made in 1854. As the 
congregation was assembling on Sunday morning, 
October 16, 1853, they were dismayed at seeing the 
building on fire, which with its contents was totally 
destroyed. 

The next edifice was erected on lots immediately 
adjoining, situated at the corner of Amsterdam Avenue 
and 99th Street, and was consecrated on November 



2 2 ^be lRew j?ork of IPeeterbap 

25, 1854, by Bishop Horatio Potter. Fifty feet front 
by seventy deep, and constructed of wood with a spire 
eighty feet in height, it held seventy- three pews which 
furnished about four hundred sittings. These pews 
were of the old-fashioned high straight-backed pattern, 
and some of them were curtained. The Rev. William 
Richmond was elected Rector in 1820 and filled the rec- 
torship of St. James's, Hamilton Square, at the same 
time. He resided in a house belonging to the Clarkson 
family, which stood just north of the residence of Dr. 
Mott, across one of the many lanes that conducted 
from the highway to the retired country-seats along the 
river. Mr. Richmond was a prominent man in the 
Episcopal Church, and exercised a great deal of influ- 
ence in the councils of the moderate low church branch. 
After his death, his widow originated, and by her inde- 
fatigable energy, raised sufficient funds to organize the 
House of Mercy, of which we have before spoken. There 
were very few merchants of the period who could not 
remember Mrs. Richmond's personal appeal for aid to 
the charity, the welfare of which she had so much at 
heart. On one occasion she visited Albany and re- 
mained there until by her unaided efforts she succeeded 
in obtaining a large appropriation for this object. 
Whatever of merit attaches to the founder of a benefi- 
cent charitable institution belongs to her. 

The Rev. Thomas McClure Peters, D.D., the founder 
and mainstay of The Sheltering Arms, succeeded Mr. 
Richmond as Rector. There was, perhaps, no man in 
the State who carried so much persistent energy and 
earnest application into works of charity with so little 
ostentation as did Dr. Peters. The Sheltering Arms, 
the Mission to the Public Institutions of the city, and 
St. Barnabas's House in Mulberry Street, all are monu- 



BIoomin0^ale 23 

ments of his devotion to the cause in which he was en- 
listed. Not that others were not also entitled to credit 
for the success of aU these charities, but that the labors 
of Dr. Peters were of such great advantage to them all, 
and his efforts in the promotion of their welfare so bene- 
ficial to their interests, that any notice of any one of 
them would be incomplete without mention of him who 
was at least one of its chief supporters. 

Just above this church on the opposite side of the 
Road at loist Street, stood until February, 1907, the 
large square white house built and formerly occupied 
by David S. Jackson, a leading man in the Twelfth 
Ward, which he represented several terms in the Com- 
mon Council as Alderman or Assistant Alderman. His 
son and namesake occupied the position of Alderman 
later. This house subsequently became the residence 
of Dr. Peters and was appropriated to the use of The 
Sheltering Arms until the completion in 1870 of its 
extensive new plant at Manhattanville. 

The fashionable French boarding-school for young 
ladies of the time was kept by Mme. Petit in a house 
belonging to the Clarkson estate near the reservoir. 
Many prominent New York ladies, such as Mrs. Benja- 
min Field, Mrs. Holly, the daughter of Alexander Ham- 
ilton, and Mrs. Richmond, received some part of their 
education there. The school was removed to Dr. 
Mott's residence at a later period. 

Mrs. Trollope, in Domestic Manners of the Americans 
(1832), gives some particulars of " Woodlawn," a beau- 
tiful place at 105th Street, in this quotation: 

The luxury of the New York Aristocracy is not confined 
to the city; hardly an acre of Manhattan Island but shows 
some pretty villa or stately mansion. The most chosen 
of them are on the North and East rivers, to whose margins 



24 Zbc Bew iporft of IJeeterba^ 

their lawns descend. Among them, perhaps the loveliest 
is one situated in the beautiful village of Bloomingdale ; 
here, within the space of sixteen acres, almost every variety 
of garden scenery may be found. To describe all its diver- 
sity of hill and dale, of wood and lawn, of rock and river, 
would be in vain ; nor can I convey an idea of it by compari- 
son, for I never saw anything like it. How far the elegant 
hospitality which reigns there may influence my impres- 
sions, I know not; but, assuredly, no spot I have ever seen 
dwells more freshly in my memory, nor did I ever find my- 
self in a circle more calculated to give delight in meeting 
and regret at parting, than that of Woodlawn. 

The Beekman, Whitlock, and Finlay mansions, the 
first at i2oth Street and the river, the second at ii8th 
Street, were other old timers, as was the Buckley house, 
which stood under the shadow of Claremont Hill in the 
line of 127th Street, and just west of the Finlay resi- 
dence. " Edge Hill," the Mali place, where lived the 
Belgian Consul, "Willow Bank," the seat of Caspar 
Meier, the residence of John W. Schmidt, the Prussian 
Consul, the " Abbey," a private place but later a tavern, 
were other noted homes in this section. As this work 
does not pretend to be a history of Bloomingdale, it is 
sufficient in this connection simply to refer to them. 

In 181 5, the Governors of the New York Hospital at 
Broadway and Duane Street determined to build a 
country annex for the insane, and such a branch was 
incorporated three years later. Their pecuniary means 
not enabling them to undertake the enterprise on a siiffi- 
cient scale, application was made to the Legislature for 
aid, which was generously granted in 181 6 with an 
annuity of $10,000 until the year 1857. Three plots 
of land were purchased before the site finally selected 
was agreed upon, and on twenty-six acres bounded on 




>; u 



Bloomin^balc 25 

the west by the Road, was laid on May 7, 181 8, the 
corner-stone of the original building, which was con- 
structed of reddish brown freestone, smoothly rubbed. 
This was completed in 1820 and, under the name of 
the Bloomingdale Asylum, was opened for patients 
the following year. Matthew Clarkson was the first 
President and Dr. John Neilson the local physician. 
The land is now occupied by Columbia University, the 
Asylum having been removed to White Plains. 

On one of the plots bought by the Asylum, the Leake 
and Watts Orphan Home was established. Founded 
in 1 83 1, the corner-stone was laid in 1838. The build- 
ing, which still stands in the Cathedral grounds at i loth 
Street, was not completed till 1843. The Home has 
removed to Yonkers. The Mayor and Recorder of the 
city are trustees, ex officio, together with the Rector 
and Wardens of Trinity Church, the senior minister 
of the Collegiate Dutch Church (now Dr. Coe) , and the 
minister of the First Presbyterian Church (now Dr. 
Harlan) , 

On Adrian Hooglandt's farm, a portion of which he 
sold in 1784 to Nicholas de Peyster, the latter placed 
his residence at 114th Street and the river. It having 
burned down in 1835, the premises were sold to Andrew 
Carrigan, President of the Emigrant Industrial Savings 
Bank. There is no picture in existence of the de Pey- 
ster mansion; that constructed by Carrigan on the 
same site is still standing on Riverside Drive. Another 
portion of his property de Peyster sold, in 1796-8, to 
George Pollock, a merchant at 91 Water Street. He 
and Catharine Yates were married at Trinity Church 
in 1787. The complete identity of the child whose 
tomb, "erected to the memory of an amiable child," 
stands in Riverside Park is established by the recent 



26 ZTbe IRew l?orft of IPeaterbai? 

discovery of this entry in the records of that church: 
"Mr. George Pollock's son St. Clair bap"*. Nov. ii, 
1792, by the Rev. Benjamin Moore. Sponsors: Mr. 
Richard Yates, Mrs. Adolph Yates and Mr. Dyckman." 
This monument has been the subject of unceasing com- 
ment since the construction of General Grant's mauso- 
leum near by drew the national attention to the spot. 
The land, on which was a house, was transferred in 1803 
to John B. Provoost, late Recorder of the city, who in 
turn conveyed it to Joseph Alston the same year. He 
was the husband of Theodosia, the only and beautiful 
daughter of Aaron Burr, whose tragic fate at sea is well 
remembered. From Alston the property passed in 
1806 to John M. Pintard, subject to a purchase money 
mortgage, and on sale under foreclosure was bid in by 
Michael Hogan for $13,000. He was a wealthy and 
important citizen in his day, owned the entire parcel of 
land west of the Road from 121st to 127th Streets, and 
built the mansion known as "Claremont," which was 
so named after the royal residence at Surrey of Prince 
William, Duke of Clarence, afterwards King William 
IV., with whom he had served as a fellow-midshipman 
in the Royal Navy, and who visited him at his town 
house in Greenwich Street in 1782. At the time that 
Hogan was British Consul at Havana, the mansion 
was occupied by Lord Viscount Courtenay, afterwards 
Earl of Devon. He was greatly disturbed by the events 
preceding the war of 181 2, but continued to reside 
there at least as late as February 6, 18 14, on which date 
he stood sponsor at a baptism according to the records 
of St. Michael's Church. It is asserted that shortly 
thereafter he sailed for England. Joseph Bonaparte, 
ex-King of Spain and brother of Napoleon, resided there 
in 1815. 




TREES AND STONE-WALL MARKING THE WEST SIDE OF OLD BLOOMINGDALE ROAD, 1906 
Looking southwest from Broadway at I24tli Street. Grant's Tomb in distance 



BIoominG^aIc 27 

Hogan eventually deeded his property, for the benefit 
of creditors, to trustees, who in 182 1 conveyed "Clare- 
mont" to Joel Post, who attended worship at the 
Bloomingdale Church. He died in 1835 and at the sale 
in partition the property was bid in by his sons, Alfred 
C. (M.D.) and Edward Post. This bluff was one of the 
sites suggested by Washington for the capital of the 
nation and, as is well known, it now forms a feature 
of the most beautiful river park in the world. The 
superb view from the knoll on which the mansion stands 
is surpassingly lovely. The line of territory along the 
majestic Hudson is destined to be yet more resplend- 
ent than at present. The grand pageants which have 
heretofore taken place in this neighborhood only fore- 
shadow what is in store for this wonderful portion of our 
island. More than all, the locality is sacred ground, 
for here heroes and patriots have battled for their coun- 
try's cause. Part of the field on which was fought the 
battle of Harlem Heights yet lies about as it looked 
at the time. In the view, the original bed of the Road 
dominates the foreground. 

In concluding this sketch, let this sad valediction 
be pronounced. Old Bloomingdale has disappeared. 
Vanished are its homesteads and stately mansions. 
The Road itself, once the drive of fashion, is no more. 
Trucks and cars crowd the streets which cover its once 
rural windings and the comely wooded hills and green 
pastures are gone forever — save in the memory of those 
who have been spared to dream. 



II 
Bloomino^ale /IDtlltant 

Hs far back as 1613 numerous wars occurred between 
England and France, covering a century and a half and 
terminating in the Treaty of Paris, 1763. There can 
be no question but that Canada, the bone of contention 
on this continent, belonged to the French if prior occu- 
pancy gave right. They also claimed by prior discov- 
ery. England's claims were identical, but reached 
no farther north than 45° of north latitude. By the 
year above mentioned the French had extended their 
settlements from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the mouth 
of the Penobscot. These settlements were declared 
to be encroachments, and in this year one Captain 
Argall was sent from Virginia to dispossess them, 
which he accomplished in the ruthless manner of the 
times. This was the commencement of hostilities 
between the subjects of the two Crowns in any part 
of North America. No permanent settlements by 
Englishmen had been made there. What was called 
(I.) The English Revolution in favor of William III., 
Prince of Orange, broke out in 1688, and this directly 
affected the Province of New York, as did the following 
encounters. (II.) The War between England and 
France, 1689. France determined upon a policy of 

28 



Bloomitidbale flDiUtant 29 

invasion of both New York and New England, with the 
ultimate intention of acquiring such territory as she 
might capture. In January of this year Chevalier de 
Calli^res Bonnevue, Governor of Montreal, conceived 
a project for the invasion and conquest of New York. 
He intended to make Albany his objective and 
with a force of two thousand men he proposed to take 
the route via the Richelieu River to Lake Champlain, 
thence by the "carrying place" to the Hudson, thence 
to Albany, then called Orange in honor of the Prince 
who ruled England. Albany had a population as large 
as Montreal. The Chevalier was convinced that he 
would have but little difficulty in obtaining possession 
of Albany. That city in his possession, he proposed 
to seize all the boats, barks, and canoes available and 
proceed down the river to attack the capital of the pro- 
vince. Success to him meant the governorship of New 
York. Although this plan was approved by the French 
King, and was put into execution, the expedition which 
Frontenac engineered proceeded no farther than Sche- 
nectady, which was burned and its inhabitants massa- 
cred on February 8-9, 1690. During these two years 
the unsuccessful (III.) Expedition against Canada took 
place. The minutes of the proceedings of the United 
Colonies show the quota of men raised in New York to 
have been 400, in Massachusetts 160, in Connecticut 
135, Plymouth 60, and Maryland 100 ; in all 885. Fran- 
cis Nicholson was Governor of New York. The volun- 
teers in this county left the city on April 2, 1689, under 
Capt. Jacob Milborne. Those from Flatbush were 
commanded by Peter Stryker, Captain of Foot, com- 
missioned for the expedition December 27th, and on 
December i6th Jacobus van der Spiegle became En- 
sign in Capt. Robert Walter's Company of N. Y. Militia. 



30 ZTbe 1Rew IPorh of ipeaterbai? 

The latter and Johannes Hardman and Johannes Pro- 
voost, Jr., went to the front in 1690. On March 4th, 
Johannes de Bruyn and said Provoost and Milborne 
were deputed to proceed to Albany to take command of 
all the forces raised in New York and adjacent counties, 
and to control the fort and affairs generally. (IV.) 
Queen Anne's War and the Second Expedition against 
Canada covered the years 1709 to 1711, during the ad- 
ministrations of Richard Ingoldesby, Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor, and Robert Hunter, Governor. Nicholson was 
appointed commander-in-chief of all the forces raised by 
the provinces of New York, Connecticut, and Pennsyl- 
vania. Col. Peter Schuyler commanded all the Indians 
engaged in behalf of the colonists. Jacob de Kay, 
Lieutenant, and Johannes Hardenbrook, Lieutenant 
of the 4th Company of the militia regiment, appointed 
June 26, 1 7 10, were Bloomingdale representatives, as 
was Gerrit Cosine. The troops of this expedition were 
disbanded in April, 17 12. 

Those who composed the first distinctive company of 
the Outward are recorded in vol. i, page 582, of Hast- 
ings's Reports. This designation comprised both Bloom- 
ingdale and Harlem. The company was mustered into 
his Majesty George II. 's service in 1738, when George 
Clarke was Lieutenant-Governor of the province. As 
a matter of historical interest so much of the roll of 
this organization as fits the occasion is appended, mod- 
ern spelling being substituted where obviously required : 

Capt., Gerard Stuyvesant 

Left., Jacobus Kip 
Ensign, Philip Minthorne 
Sergeants 
John Horn Marten van Evera 

Derick Benson William Waldron 



Bloomingbale flDilitant 

Men 



31 



Christian Hardman 

William Low 

John Minthorne 

Frederick Webbers 

John Harsen 

Jacob Horn 

Arnout Horn 

John Kip 

Isaac de Lamontanye 

David de Voor, Sen'r 

David de Voor, Jun'r 

Jonathan Hardman 

John Bas, Sen'r 

John Bas, Jun'r 

Abraham de Lamater 

Burger van Evera 

John Sprong 

John de Voor 

John Waldron van Horn's 

Benjamin Waldron 

John Waldron 

Aaron Kortright 

John Benson 

Isaac Mier 

John Sickels 

Abraham Myer, Jun'r 

Aaron Myer 

David de Voor 

Peter Waldron 

Adolf Benson 



Adolf Myer, Jun'r 
John Myer, Jun'r 
Samuel Waldron, Jun'r 
John Waldron van Hogt 
John Dyckman 
Lawrence Low 
Resolvert Waldron 
John van Oblines 
Jacob Dyckman 
Jacob Dyckman, Jun'r 
John Nagel, Jun'r 
Harman van de Water 
Adrian Hooglandt 
Edde van Evera 
John Dyckman 
Nicholas Dyckman 
John Webbers 
Jacob van Orden 
Hoek Isaac Webbers 

Cornelius Webbers 
John Hopper 
Andrew Hopper 
John Couwenhoven 
Folkert Somerindick 
Isaac de Lamater 
John Mandeville 
Yellis Mandeville 
Cornelius Webbers 
Cornelius Dyckman 



The company was composed of 86 men. 

Other worthies living in the Outward who served in 
the militia this year were : 



32 



ZTbe IRew IPorh of l?e0tert)ai? 



Corneles Cozeijn appears on the list of Capt. Joseph 
Robinson's company of foot, January 21, 1737-8. 

Gert Harsen, Sergeant of Gerard Beekman's Co. 

Stanley Holmes, Cornelius Quackenbosh, Johan 
France Waldron, and William Hopper were members 
of Capt. Charles Laroexs's company. 

Of Capt. Abraham Boelen's company, Henry Beek- 
man was Second Lieutenant and William de Peyster, 
Ensign. Others who served therein were Cornelius 
van den Berg, Sampson Benson, John Couzyn, Harman 
Benson, Garret Cozyn, and Adriaen Hogeland. 

Henry Benson was sergeant of Capt. Cornelius van 
Home's company, of which these individuals were 
members, viz. : Samson Benson, Sam's son, Samson 
Benson, Thewe's son, Samuel Maghee, Alexander 
Maghee, Samuel Couwenhoven, Henry van de Water, 
Isaac Varian, and Richard Waldron. 

In Capt. Henry Cuyler's company served Humphrey 
Jones and Richard Ray. 

Isaac de Peyster was Lieutenant in foot company, 
commanded by Joseph Robinson. Others serving 
therein were Benjamin Quackenbos, Richard Hopper, 
John Oblines, Albertus van de Water, Hendrick van 
de Water, Adam van de Bergh, Cornelius Cozeijn, Isaac 
Bussing, Aaron Bussing, John van Orden, John Post, 
and John and Jacob Montagne. 



1738- 



Isaac de Peyster, 


commissioned Captain, 


Aug 


18. 


Henry Beekman, 


" First Lieut. 


" 


19. 


Abel Hardenbrook 


<< <( <' 


" 


24. 


Philip Minthorne, 


" Second Lieut. 


" 


28. 


William de Peyster 


<• « <i 


" 


31- 


Humphrey Jones, 


" Ensign 


Sept. 


12. 


Robert Benson, 


<C i< 


" 


15- 


John Barberie, 


"J 


" 


16. 


John Benson, 


.1 II 


" 


ao. 



3BIoomlnot)ale flDilUant 33 

(V.) The war of the "Austrian Succession," be- 
tween the old enemies England and France, opened 
in 1744, and was concluded by the Peace of 1748. An 
expedition against Canada during the administration 
of George Clinton was undertaken. So far as we know 
only two bearing Bloomingdale names volunteered: 
John and Thomas Stillwell were mustered in Sept. 25, 
1746. 

(VI.) In the French and Indian War of 1 754, during 
which the battle of Lake George was fought, Sept. 8, 
1755, and in the expedition against Crown Point the 
following year, no local enlistments are found. 

The roll of men in Capt. George Brewerton, Jr.'s. 
company, taken April 26, 1759, contains these names 
and particulars : 

Cornelius van de Water, enlisted March i8th, age 19, 
5 feet 3^ inches tall, with a round face, brown hair, 
gray eyes, and light complexion ; and 

Volkert Somerindyck, enlisted March 26th, age 38, 
5 feet if inches tall, long face, brown hair, gray eyes, 
and ruddy complexion. 

May 10, 1762, John Dyckman, aged 38, of New York, 
enlisted for expedition against Canada in Capt. John 
Grant's company. Stature, 5 feet 11^ inches, blue 
eyes, brown hair, and fair complexion. 

December 28, 1763, John Horn enlisted at New York 
for Captain Grant's company. 

In these early days wars and rumors thereof did not 
much ruffle the serenity of village life. Bloomingdale's 
baptism of blood was now to be evolved. 

tTbc IRevolution 

On the list of those who issued calls for the Provincial 
Congress appear these later Bloomingdale names : 



34 Zbc 1Rew IPork of IJeaterba^ 

John Broome, Robert Benson, John de Lancey, and 
William W. Ludlow. The Congress made three calls 
on the people of New York for assistance, the first in 
1775, the second early in 1776, and the third during the 
summer of that year. 

The militia of New York County in 1775 comprised 
a number of independent foot companies. These 
were amalgamated into regiments of volunteers, the 
first being commanded by Col. John Lasher. It was 
composed of the Grenadier Company, of which Lasher 
had been Captain, the Fusileers, the German Fusileers, 
the Union Company, the Sportsman Company, the 
Corsicans, the Bold Foresters, the Light Infantry, the 
Oswago Rangers, and a company of Rangers — ten com- 
panies in all — to which should be added two companies 
of artillery. Vol. ii., p. 143, of Hastings's Reports alters 
these names. Instead of the Union, Corsicans, and Bold 
Foresters are mentioned the Prussian Blues, Hearts Oak, 
and Light Horse. Each company appears to have been 
uniformed differently. Among the officers were the 
"most respectable" citizens, many being members of 
the "Sons of Liberty." The Fusileer Company was 
captained by Rudolphus Ritzema — ^he of the fine Dutch 
patronymic — of which Henry G. Livingston and James 
van Zant were Lieutenants. Its uniform was blue with 
red facings, topped with a bear-skin cap. On the latter 
and on the pouch were brass plates bearing the word 
" Fuzileers," and encircling the last, the motto: "Salus 
populi suprema lex est." George Harsen of the Grena- 
diers and Oliver Mildeberger of th^ German Fusileers 
served as Lieutenants of Militia in 1775 and 1777, either 
in this or the Second Regiment. Harsen entered him- 
self as willing to serve his country on January 31, 1776 
(Archives State N. Y. in Rev., p. 51), and was ap- 



Bloominabale fUMlltant 35 

pointed Adjutant of Levies July i, 1780. Garish (Gar- 
ret?) Harsen wrote to his cousin, WilHam Raddift, at 
Rhyn Beck (Rhinebeck) on February 13, 1776, teUing 
of the terror and confusion caused in the city by the 
coming of the British regulars. 

Governor Tryon wrote the Earl of Dartmouth on Feb- 
ruary 8th, that one half the inhabitants had withdrawn 
their effects and that hundreds were without means to 
support their families. Many refugees sought tempo- 
rary asylum in Bloomingdale and the country north. 
Capt. -Lieut. Henry Livingston of the Fusileers, who 
also entered himself for service in January, 1776, is the 
Judge who later lived in Bloomingdale, at which time 
he had discarded his Christian name and assumed the 
middle cognomen Brockholst. 

The Second Regiment of the city, of which John 
Broome was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel Novem- 
ber 3, 1775, sent three of its officers to offer its services 
as a regiment, provided it was taken into " constant 
pay ' ' as Minute-men. They appeared before the Com- 
mittee of Safety on March 19, 1776. The independent 
companies composing it were accepted for two months 
and were to consist of at least seven, each to contain 
eighty-six men, including sergeants, corporals, and drum 
and fife corps, besides a colonel, a lieutenant-colonel, 
a major, an adjutant, and a quartermaster. John Web- 
bers and Garret Beekman, of Capt. Benjamin Egbert's 
company, served with the command on fatigue at the 
fortifications, commencing on the 17th of this month. 

Colonel Lasher's regiment "founded a Breastwork 
around the Hospital" site at Duane Street, in April (the 
building itself being nearly destroyed by the fire of 
Feb. 28, 1775, while yet unfinished), composed of sod 
and dirt, ten feet thick and seven feet high, with a ditch 



36 ^be 1Rew l?ork of 13e6ter^al? 

twelve feet wide and seven feet deep surrounding the 
whole, which would afford a safe retreat from musketry 
fire. It is stated that they gained great honor by erect- 
ing the circular battery nominated after them, and 
received the thanks of General Stirling " in a most pub- 
lick manner." This was the beginning of the institu- 
tion, the country annex of which cut such a large figure 
in the Bloomingdale of the next century. In this 
month, also, a guard from this regiment relieved one 
of citizens which had been watching the colonial 
records, removed by order of the Provincial Congress 
(Feb. nth) to the house of Alderman Nicholas Bayard 
of the Outward. Others who served in this troop were 
Garret Kip and Yellis Mandeville, Jr. 

A renowned Bloomingdale personage was John 
Morin Scott, who resided in November, 1775, at the seat 
since known as "The Hermitage" and the "Temple of 
Health," which remained until a recent date in West 
43d Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. He 
was one of the earliest, most able, and most determined 
of "The Sons of Liberty." Born, 1730, in this city, 
he entered Yale, where he graduated, 1746. Having 
adopted the profession of law, he soon became a leading 
member of the provincial bar, where many of the ablest 
minds of America were then practising. An early op- 
ponent of the Government, he was a member of the 
Provincial Congress in 1775; on June 9, 1776, he was 
appointed Brigadier-General of Provincial troops, with 
whom he was engaged in the battle of Long Island. He 
left the service in March, 1777, to become Secretary of 
State of New York, and in 1782 and 1783 served in the 
Continental Congress. He died in this city, Sept. 14, 

1784. 
One of the scarcest articles for the equipment of the 



Bloomingbalc flIMUtant 37 

soldiery was lead. On June 8, 1776, Samuel Prince 
and two assistants took the window weights from the 
City Hall and the Exchange, and the following month 
began the taking of leads from the windows of private 
residences. Among those in Bloomingdale whose 
houses were thus despoiled were the families of Beek- 
man, Clarkson, de Lancey, de Peyster, Harsen, Hopper, 
Jauncey, Jones, Kortright, Lawrence, Leake, Living- 
ston, McEvers, and Quackenbos. The one hundred tons 
of lead secured in this manner from New York City 
proved invaluable. The fate of the American cause, 
says N. Y. in the Revolution (Supplement), printed by 
the State, might have been much more doubtful had 
it not been for this supply. From July to December 
about twenty tons had been delivered to the army. 
This lead was paid for by the State Treasurer at nine 
pence per pound, on the termination of hostilities. 

The fleet under Sir William Howe arrived off Sandy 
Hook, June 29, 1776, and the troops were debarked 
July 2d and 3d. The advent of these forces fore- 
shadowed the coming storm, and was the forerunner 
of the event of greatest renown in Bloomingdale history, 
viz. ; the battle of Harlem Heights. 

After the catastrophe on Long Island, August 28, 
1776, and the affair at Kip's Bay, the Americans with- 
drew up the island, time for which retreat being gained, 
so it is claimed, through the instrumentality of Mary 
Lindley Murray (the wife of Robert Murray, the father 
of Lindley, the grammarian), who entertained General 
Howe and his officers at luncheon on Sept. 15, 1776, at 
her house, at present Park Avenue and 36th Street. 
During the two hours thus engaged, Putnam and his 
command, in their straggling and disorderly retreat 
along the Bloomingdale Road, had passed in safety to 



38 Zbe IRcw l?orft of IJester^a^ 

within a mile of the Morris house where Washington's 
headquarters were maintained. When the British 
reaUzed the fact that the patriots had joined the main 
army, they encamped that night along Apthorp Lane, 
Sir Henry Clinton taking possession of the mansion, 
and threw up fortifications just north of that lane, ex- 
tending across the island from Hoorn's Hoek on the 
East River to Striker's Bay on the Hudson. Earl 
Cornwallis was in command of the Reserve, while differ- 
ent generals led the English, Scotch, and Hessians. The 
first line of works thrown up by the Americans was 
located about 147th Street, near the Kortright house, 
and the hill as far south as "The Hollow Way," the 
valley through which Manhattan Street now passes, 
was occupied by them. Generally these were the posi- 
tions of the two forces on September i6th. On that 
morning, Col. Thomas Knowlton, who had seen service 
at Lexington, Bunker Hill, and Long Island, was di- 
rected by Washington to make a reconnoissance of the 
enemy's position. Moving southward with his Connect- 
icut Rangers along the westerly side near the Hudson, 
they were screened from view by the woods covering 
Hooglandt's farm. It was not until they reached Nich- 
olas Jones's farmhouse, about sunrise, that the British 
pickets, light infantrymen, were encountered. Evi- 
dently stationed on the Bloomingdale Road at about 
104th Street, their regiments were encamped a short 
distance to the south. During the brisk skirmish which 
now took place, the woods along the dividing line be- 
tween the Jones and Hooglandt farms echoed the sharp 
firing from both sides. The forces were so dispropor- 
tioned as to numbers, and the object of the movement 
having been attained, Knowlton ordered a retreat 
which was effected without confusion or loss. He had 




Columbia vnivtr»lty. 




|E BATTl 

SEPTt 

"Battle of Har 



H U 



O 'N 



Hi V E 




PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF HARLEM HEIGHTS. 

SEPTEMBEB lO. 1770 

Reproduced from Prof. Johnston's "Battle of Harlem Heights" by permission of Columbia University Press. 



Bloominobalc flIMUtant 39 

ten, however, killed in action. They fell back along 
the line of the Road, closely pursued. The enemy 
halted at the elevation known as " Claremont," from 
which point they could catch glimpses of General 
Greene's troops on the opposite slopes. This was the 
third time within a month that the British had scat- 
tered or driven Washington's men with ease, and it 
only remained on this occasion for their bugler to sound 
the contemptuous notes of the hunting field, across the 
Hollow into the American lines. To quote one of the 
latter 's officers: "The enemy appeared in open view 
and in the most insulting manner sounded their bugle 
horns as is usual after a Fox-chase ; I never felt such a 
sensation before — ^it seemed to crown our disgrace." 

Washington had gone down to the advanced position 
held by these patriots and heard the firing. He was 
urged to reinforce the Rangers, but was not immedi- 
ately persuaded of the advisability of forcing the fight- 
ing. Eventually he determined on a strategical plan, 
viz. : to make a feint in front of the hill and induce the 
enemy to advance into the Hollow, and second, should 
this prove effective, to send a strong detachment cir- 
cuitously around their right flank to their rear and hem 
them in. This plan succeeded in so far that the enemy ^ 
seeing the advance on our part, promptly accepted bat- 
tle, "ran down the hill and took possession of some 
fences and bushes," from which vantage a smart fire 
was begun , but at too great a distance to do much exe- 
cution. The flanking party, composed of Knowlton's 
Rangers, now back at the lines, was reinforced with 
three companies of riflemen from the Third Virginia 
Regiment under Major Andrew Leitch of Stafford 
County, that colony. In some unlucky manner the 
attack was premature "as it was rather in flank than 



40 ^be 1Rew IPork of ©esterbai? 

in rear." Both the brave leaders fell in this engage- 
ment, Knowlton living but an hour. Leitch survived 
until October 2d, when he died at a little blacksmith's 
shop in the neighborhood of (now) 129th Street. Noth- 
ing daunted, the Rangers and Riflemen pressed on. 
The British who had been inveigled into the Hollow 
Way had in the meantime been put to flight by the use 
of artillery, and were pursued back towards their camp 
along the line of the Road to a buckwheat field on top 
of a high hill. Heretofore the manoeuvring had taken 
place largely on the Hooglandt farm; now the main 
action is transferred to Van de Water's Heights. 

The general limits of this " hot contest" were the high 
ground extending from Columbia University around 
westwardly and northerly to Grant's Tomb and Clare- 
mont. The fighting grew into a pitched battle, lasting 
from noon until about two o'clock. Nearly 1800 men 
were engaged on our side, composed of commands rep- 
resenting New England, Maryland, and Virginia, with 
volunteers from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsyl- 
vania. The enemy finally retreated, followed in close 
pursuit, and the day was won. The route crossed an 
orchard just north of 1 1 ith Street and terminated in the 
vicinity of Jones's house, where Knowlton first found 
them in the early morning. It was considered prudent 
toj^withdraw and late in the afternoon the troops re- 
turned to camp, rejoicing in a success they had not 
anticipated. It is estimated that about thirty men 
were killed, and not over a hundred wounded and miss- 
ing. A total British loss of one hundred and seventy- 
one was reported. This action put new courage into 
the patriots and exerted a wide influence over subse- 
quent events. 

The above account of the battle of Harlem Heights 




=1 1 V 

it tie of Harlem H 



HUD 




'EAST 

Reproduced from Prof. Johnston's "Battle of Harlem Heights" by permission of Columbia University Press. 



15loomlna^ale flDIIltant 41 

follows the narrative as related by Henry P. Johnston, 
Esq., who had access to documents which were inac- 
cessible to other writers on the subject. One of Ma- 
jor Leitch's descendants has undertaken to criticise 
many of Professor Johnston's conclusions, and his 
strictures thereon are entertaining if of no other 
value. Washington fittingly referred to "the gallant 
and brave Colonel Knowlton, who would have been an 
honor to any country," and the same day (Sept. 17th) 
most heartily thanked "the troops commanded yester- 
day by Major Leitch." The commander-in-chief's 
method of showing his commendation of the perform- 
ance of these two participants should be conclusive, 
and any family traditions current in Virginia cannot 
alter the facts of history. At one time it was thought 
that the contest was fought on Washington Heights, 
and accordingly the Sons of the Revolution erected a 
bronze tablet to Colonel Knowlton and Major Leitch, 
which was imbedded in the wall surrounding Trinity 
Cemetery at 153d Street and Amsterdam Avenue. 
The inscription thereon has been altered to fit the facts 
as hereinabove related. 

And now as to some of the landmarks on the field of 
action, and first the Apthorp mansion. It was here 
that Washington waited until his little army of 3500 
men, none of whom had had any breakfast or sleep, 
had passed in retreat from the oncoming enemy, 
following them to the Roger Morris house (Jumel man- 
sion) at 1626. Street, where he made his headquarters 
until after the battle. Standing between 91st and 
92d Streets, just west of Columbus Avenue, as at 
present laid out, the house became the headquarters 
of Generals Howe, Clinton, Cornwallis, and Carlton, at 
successive stages of the British occupation. The land 



42 ^be IRew l?orft ot l^esterbai? 

on which it was built was a part of the original farm of 
Theunis Eydese van Huyse, who in his old age laid it 
out into eight lots of fifty-seven and one half acres each. 
Of these, the first five numbers were subsequently 
owned by Apthorp. When Howe took possession, it 
was whispered about that he was made welcome there, 
and when the war was over the lawyer was included in 
the list of persons suspected of being Tory sympathiz- 
ers. Although indicted for treason, he was never tried 
for his alleged crime. Property which he owned in 
Massachusetts in connection with his brother was con- 
fiscated, but the New York realty was left untouched. 
His name is generally spelled incorrectly in local history. 
We have in possession a deed dated 1764, executed by 
him, in which he spelt the name, Apthorp, without the 
finale e, and we are assured by a number of his descend- 
ants that this is the proper orthography. Access to 
the mansion was gained via "The new Bloomingdale 
cross-road" or the "cross-road to Harlem," which left 
the Bloomingdale Road in the block between 93d and 
94th Streets, and joined the old Post Road at a point 
near the line of 96th Street, between Fifth and Sixth 
Avenues within the present confines of Central Park. 
Colonel Smallwood's regiment of Marylanders were 
posted at this latter spot before the battle and on the 
arrival of Clinton's column from the south had retired 
to join the main army. Clinton did not follow the Post 
Road on through McGown's Pass, but turned into this 
cross-road and reached the Bloomingdale end just as 
Silliman's troops, abandoning the extremity of the 
island, had passed north. A few minutes earlier and 
the patriots would have been intercepted. 

Van de Water Heights, mentioned in the records 
of the battle, and owned by Harman van de Water, 



Bloomingbalc flDilltant 43 

stretched between io6th and 124th Streets, and in- 
cluded a part of present Morningside Park. These 
Heights were a portion of the De Key tract, which was 
conveyed by the Mayor, etc., to Jacob de Key for £2^,"], 
July 21, 1 70 1, containing 235 A., 3 R., and 18 P. {Vide 
Grants, N. Y. City Comptroller's Office, vol. 11., 28), 
and were bounded south by the land of Theunis Ei- 
deyse van Huyse, and east by Harlem Commons. 
Van de Water and Adriaen Hooglandt purchased one 
half of the tract from de Key in 1738. The executors 
of Johannes Hooglandt, the father of Adriaen, viz., 
Benjamin and William Hooglandt, sold the deceased's 
lands to Nicholas de Peyster, Dec. 7, 1785, and Benja- 
min van de Water, who succeeded to the ownership of 
Harman's interest in the de Key tract, conveyed it to 
James W. de Peyster, together with other land on Har- 
lem Lane (present St. Nicholas Avenue), Oct. 16, 1785. 
The Hooglandts of Bloomingdale Heights descend 
from Comelis Dircksen Hooglandt, b. 1599, who was 
living at Breuckelin (Brooklyn) in 1638. His sons 
Johannes and Adriaen removed to New York, where 
the latter, a merchant, was murdered by his slave. 
Robin, in the negro outbreak of April, 1712. Johannes 
m. 1686, Anna Duyckinck, widow of Peter van de Water 
of Amsterdam; Peter being the grandfather, it is 
thought, of said Harman through his son Benjamin. 
The farm of these two families was surveyed in 1786 
by Casimer T. Goerck. 

The Kortright property adjoined on the east and 
lies partly in Central Park. Laurens C, second son of 
Cornells Jansen Kortright, the pioneer, succeeded to 
the homestead on Harlem Lane (later the Valentine 
Nutter farm). His son Lawrence, who d. s. p. 1761, 
alienated his inheritance. It was his great-grand- 



44 Zbe 1Rew ipork of ipe£itert)a\> 

daughter, Elizabeth, who m., 1786, Hon. James Mon- 
roe, afterwards the President. 

The house and property of Humphrey Jones, succes- 
sively owned by the Jones, Kemble, and Rogers fam- 
ilies, was a female academy just prior to its purchase 
by Frederick Weber. Francis B. Cutting and Nicholas 
C. Hey ward, executors of Ann Rogers, widow, sold the 
estate at auction in 1835. Sixty-four lots thereof, 
numbered from 281-344 on a map of the estate, were 
bid in by him for $27,520, and the conveyance, dated 
July 3d, to Frederick Weber, Gentleman, is of record in 
L. 339, p- 330. Included therein was the "Mansion 
House," and other buildings on land bounded north- 
westerly by the Hudson River, northeasterly by 102 d 
Street, as laid out by the Commissioners of Streets and 
Roads, southeasterly by the Eleventh Avenue, as so 
laid out, and southwesterly by loist Street, Approach 
to the mansion was gained via Cherry Lane, which 
left the Bloomingdale Road near present loist Street, 
and was a raised causeway supported by stone walls. 
Because of its peculiar construction it was a noted 
landmark, bordered along its length with trees which 
in season produced an abundant crop. About 1843 
Weber rented the whole property, "some 65 lots," as 
recited in the recorded lease next below mentioned, to 
Killaen H. van Rensselaer, who opened the house as 
a driving resort under the name of the " Abbey Hotel." 
In September of that year van Rensselaer and his 
wife Matilda stood sponsors at the baptism of two of 
Weber's children who were christened at St. Michael's 
Church. On Nov. i, 1845, said Weber executed a lease 
"of the property in the Twelfth Ward known as the 
Abbey Hotel now in the occupation" of said van Rens- 
selaer at the yearly rental of $900 (L. 469, 474), to 



15Iooming^aIe niMUtant 45 

Abram W. Jackson for five years from December ist. 
This lease, however, was mutually abrogated June i, 
1846 (L. 478, 576). 

Mr. Weber moved into the mansion after the pur- 
chase with his English housekeeper, Mrs. Hayes, and 
a man servant who cared for the horses and drove him 
to the city and return. His marriage took place in 
1838 to Caroline C. Fawsitt, a woman very much 
younger than himself, and here two of his children, 
Frederick and Matilda, were bom. For a time the Web- 
ers continued to reside there, but when Edward Jones 
became lessee, he who afterwards kept Claremont, they 
removed to "the cottage" on the grounds, and here 
two other children were born. Jones is said to have 
been altogether too straight-laced a man for a success- 
ful boniface and was dispossessed. Captain Tilton, an 
officer on an Albany boat, succeeded. Afterwards 
Ling and Jewell, sporting men, were proprietors. 

The Webers left "the cottage" when the children 
were very young, and removed to East Broadway near 
Henry and Scammel Streets, and in 1850 the father died 
aged about seventy-nine years. His remains were 
buried in Trinity Cemetery on February 3d of that year 
(St. Michael's Church Records) , his wife, it is stated, hav- 
ing become the first lot holder there. The widow mar- 
ried Daniel Staniford in Rockport, Mass., about 1852. 

The Abbey was a large stone edifice of stately appear- 
ance and contained thirty rooms. The view repro- 
duced is from a picture taken from nature when the 
Webers resided there. It shows the rear on the Bloom- 
ingdale Road, but the river front was exactly like it 
in style. The water color, forwarded from California, 
through the courtesy of a daughter, is considerably 
damaged, but makes a more conclusive picture than a 



46 Z\)c 1Rev\) l?ork of ^cetev^n^ 

pencilled sketch at our command by Charles W. Stam- 
ford, Chief Engineer of the Dock Department, a son of 
his mother's second union. It certainly presents an 
entirely different house from that made familiar by the 
illustration in Valentine's Manual. In 1847, the date 
mentioned thereon, Mr. Weber owned it and the sur- 
viving members of the family are satisfied that the 
place never looked like the representation in the Ma'ii- 
ual. That the mansion was Humphrey Jones's is evi- 
dent from its identical location on old maps and the 
continuity of description in the conveyances. In that 
to Nicholas Jones it is denominated "the homestead." 
Under the name of the " mansion house " it was acquired 
from John Jones by William Rogers, and by this title 
it was conveyed to Weber. The house was struck by 
lightning and burned to the ground circa 1859, and on 
Tuesday, December 20th, of that year the executors sold 
the entire property as bought by the testator, at the Mer- 
chants' Exchange, through Franklin Bros., auctioneers. 
Nicholas Jones's stone house was located on the west 
side of the Road at io6th Street, just about six blocks 
north of the residence of Humphrey Jones, his father. 
It stood near the edge of a wood and became the south- 
erly boundary of the battle-field. Professor Johnston 
inserts this advertisement from The Royal Gazette y N. Y., 
October 28, 1780: 

To be sold, a Farm at Bloomingdale, about 
200 acres more or less, seven miles from the 
city ; on said farm is a large strong stone built 
house, pleasantly situated near the North 
River; conditions for the sale will be made 
easy to a purchaser. For particulars apply 
to Nicholas Jones on the premises, by whom 
an indisputable title will be given. 



Bloomlngbale flDlUtant 47 

The present house of worship of the Church at Har- 
senville (The Bloomingdale Reformed Church) is 
located on that part of the Jones farm, 17 acres, 3 
roods, 9 perches (at the time of the battle owned by 
Nicholas Jones), which was conveyed by William 
Rogers and Ann, his wife, to her daughter Sarah, wife 
of William Heywood, Oct. 31, 181 6, and here they lived 
in a house which stood on the block between 10 6th and 
107th Streets, Eleventh Avenue (West End Avenue), 
and the river, and which was named "Woodlawn." 
William B, Moffat, he of pill notoriety, bought the prop- 
erty of said Sarah when she was a widow, April 10, 1847 . 
Consideration, $20,000 (L. 486, Conv. 424). He died 
in 1862 and the land, composing about two hundred 
lots, between 104th and io8th Streets, was appraised 
that year at $42,900 by the executor's report. Prior 
to that time it was opened as a hotel under lease from 
Moffat by William L. Wiley, who retained the place 
for five years. The title of the establishment was 
"Woodlawn Hotel." That of "Strawberry Hill Ho- 
tel," by which Valentine dubs it, was never used, 
although it might easily arise as a local designation 
because the enormous quantities of wild berries 
along the river caused the locality to be known as Straw- 
berry Hill, and as such it is called in some deeds of 
property thereabouts. After being vacant for some 
time Courtlandt P. Dixon purchased it for use as a coun- 
try residence. It was the first home of the New York 
Infant Asylum. The church stands immediately east 
of the site of " Woodlawn." The house was there when 
Apthorp sold the property to Jones, Oct. 12, 1764 
(L. 43, Conv. 413), and has become famous in war 
annals as that of Nicholas Jones. 

Humphrey Jones's testimony as to the location of 



4$ ^be mew l?ork of l^eeterba^ 

the battle-field is given in a letter which the late Eras- 
tus C. Benedict, Esq., of New York City, formerly 
Chancellor of the Regents of the State University, 
cited in a paper he read in February, 1878, on the battle 
before the N. Y. Historical Society. Said Jones: "My 
father at one time lived at Manhattanville and he has 
shown me the battle-ground. It commenced on the 
hill near the [Bloomingdale] Asylum, and the Ameri- 
cans drove the British up the Road and down the hill 
often called by the name of Break Neck Hill," meaning 
the hill of that name near Claremont. Jones's father, 
Thomas, "the fighting Quaker of Lafayette's army," is 
quoted by Mrs. Lamb as saying "we drove the British 
up the road and down Break Neck Hill, which was the 
reason they called it Break Neck Hill." 

At the termination of the Road as then opened, was 
Adriaen Hooglandt's house (115th Street and River- 
side Drive). In 1784 the New York Packet advertised 
for sale this "noted farm" having on it "a valuable 
orchard of grafted fruit," the identical orchard of the 
battle. It is further mentioned in the conveyance of 
this property to Nicholas de Peyster the boundary of 
which is described as running from a certain point 
"to the orchard, thence southwesterly across the said 
orchard as by a petition {sic\ fence, now divided to 
the southwest fence of the said orchard" (L. 41, 
Conv. 434). 

As soon as the enemy was established in the posses- 
sion of the island, Howe appointed Oliver de Lancey 
a Brigadier- General, with orders to raise five regiments 
to hold the territory acquired. The Second Regiment 
was composed principally of the independent compan- 
ies heretofore mentioned. The Rangers, the German 
independent company, and ten others, representing 



Bloomingbale flDilltant 49 

the six wards,were taken over under Col. George Brew- 
erton. He had been an alderman of the city and had 
a part in the Provincial service. Though quite a young 
man, he commanded a Provincial regiment at the siege 
of Havana, and for his spirited conduct received the 
thanks of Lord Albemarle upon several occasions. 
William Waddell was Lieutenant-Colonel of this regi- 
ment, and John Watts, Jr., Major. The companies of 
the Outward were officered as follows (N. Y. Gen. and 
Bio. Record, vol. ii., 156): 

Captain, Edward Hardenbrook Captain, John Dikeman 
ist Lt., John Fowler ist Lt. 



2d " John Hopper 2d " David Henry Mallor 
Ensign, James Striker Ensign, 

The commissions were dated Oct. 23, 1776. We 
have followed the fortunes of but two of those here 
named. They had belonged to the city militia prior 
to the breaking out of hostilities, and continued in the 
King's service with their comrades. This was done 
generally. Many felt that it was the only way to pre- 
serve property rights and save their families from indig- 
nity. Hopper remained in this service but a few 
months, abandoning rank by leaving, and enlisted 
for three years on Jan. i, 1777, in the 4th Company, 
2d Regiment of the Line, under Washington. He is 
entered as having deserted December, 1779 (Archives 
S. of N. Y., vol. I, p. 219), but as Comptroller James 
A. Roberts states in the preface of N. Y . in the Rev., 
second edition, p. 14, such a designation must not be 
taken too seriously. Hopper was doubtless absent at 
roll-call. At any rate he re-enlisted July 5, 1780, in 
the Lieutenant-Colonel's company, 4th Regiment. 
He took his discharge December 15th (ibid.), that he 
might be promoted Ensign of the 2d Regiment of Con- 



so XTbe 1Flew IJorft of Wcetext>a^ 

tinental Troops (Jersey Line). A committee of Con- 
gress, says Stryker's Officers and Men of N. J. in the 
Rev., was appointed during this summer to make the 
"arrangement" of the officers of the ist, 2d, and 3d 
Regiments, which arrangement was confirmed by a 
joint meeting of the Legislature on Sept. 26, 1780. It 
was under this assignment that Hopper received his 
commission. It is family history that he rose to the 
rank of General. This cannot, however, be proved 
at this day, so many of the records of the service having 
been lost, but that he was called by that title is in evi- 
dence. He was in receipt of a pension in this State 
(A^. Y. in the Rev., p. 272). His father, John Hopper 
the Elder, died in 1 779. One of the items in closing the 
estate was ;^482, received from the Barrack Master for 
trees cut down on the farm in 1780 "by authority of 
Government," and an additional amount for the sale 
of tops and branches. The sum of ;^8i3 11 o was 
divided by the executors among the heirs on August 
12th in the proportion bequeathed in the will. The 
author is in possession of the executors' statement and 
the heirs' receipts. 

Striker was just of age when he was commissioned 
in 1776. He also joined the American army, going to 
New Jersey, as did his future father-in-law, where he 
became a member of the Light Horse Troop, 2d Bat- 
talion, of Somerset Militia, of which his relative in the 
same generation, John Stryker, was Captain. This 
troop formed a part of Washington's forces and was 
present at the battles of Trenton in December, 1776, 
Princeton in January, 1777, Germantown in October 
of that year, and Monmouth in June, 1778. 

New York was called on to furnish four regiments 
for the Continental army and this was raised to five 



ISloomlngbale Militant 51 

upon the State's application. These composed "The 
Line" and were under Washington. There were also 
regiments of artillery and an organization of so-called 
"Green Mountain Boys," which served in the Line. 
"The Levies" were composed of drafts from different 
militia regiments, and from the people as well, and 
these could be called upon to serve outside the State 
during their entire term. The militia could only be 
called for outside service for three months at a time. 
Fifteen organizations of the Line were enlisted during 
the war. Altogether, New York furnished 51,972 men 
to the defence of the coimtry (N. Y. in the Rev., p. 15), 
taking her place immediately behind Massachusetts. 
It should be called to mind in this connection that fully 
one tenth of its population was locked up because of 
the possession by the enemy of the chief city during the 
entire war, thus preventing recruiting there. The col- 
ony was the battle-ground of the contest from the cap- 
ture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point in May, 1775, to 
Carlton's raid on the upper Hudson in 1780. The sur- 
render of Cornwallis in 1781 was the practical end of 
the conflict. 

The names of Bloomingdale families here transcribed 
are from the rosters of the regiments of the Line : 

First Regt. Capt. Richard Varick 

Lieut. Gerard Beekman 
Ensign. William W. de Peyster 

" Gilbert R. Livingston 

" John Waldron 

Men 

Joseph Dyckman. Joseph Edes 

Isaac Lawrence Jacob Lawrence 

Matthew Lawrence . , John Varian 



52 

James Webbers 



Zhe Ticvo 13ork of Ucsterba^ 

Men (Continued) 
Andrew Westerfield 



John Wells 



Second Regt. Major. Nicholas Fish 



Men. 



John Alport 
Thomas Benson 
Isaac Cargil 
Benjamin Lawrence 
'Isaac Mott 
Jacob Quackenbos 



Henry Arkenburgh 
William Benson 
George S. Lawrence 
Jacob Lawrence 
Henry Post 
Jacobus Remsen 



Moses Ritter 



Third Regt. Lieut. Andrew Lawrence 



Men 



John Beekman 
Matthew Kip 
Silvester Kortright 
Jacob Mott 
Samuel Mott 
Cornelius Post 
William Ray 
John Wells 



Thomas Benson 
Moses Kip 
Henry Mott 
Joseph Mott 
Thomas Mott 
Richard Post 
Charles van Orden 
Peter Wells 



Fourth Regt. Colonel. Henry B. Livingston 
Lieut. John Lawrence 
" Abraham Riker 

» Isaac Mott, the great-grandfather of the writer, b. May 6, 1743. 
became the husband of Anne Coles, heretofore mentioned, on Dec. 
29, 1765. At the age of 23, he entered into business, and, although 
he was of Quaker ancestry, enlisted in the 2d Regiment of the Line 
for nine months on May 5,1778. He was exchanged Jan. 22d, 
and discharged Feb. 15, 1779. It was during his absence that his 
wife aided the captives in the Sugar House. Reduced by exposure 
in service, he died at the early age of 37 (1780), while his widow 
survived, unmarried, until 1840. 



36Ioom!ndbaIe fUMUtant 



53 



Men 



John Boggs 
Henry Cortright 
John Lawrence 
Richard Lawrence 



Samuel Post 



William Burnham 
Nathan Holmes 
Uriah Lawrence 
Richard Livingston 



Fifth Regt. Lieut. 



Abraham Leggett 
Ebenezer Mott 



Men 



William Lawrence, Jr. 
Zebulon Post 
Cornelius Vanderbarak 
Albert van Orden 
Robert Wells 



John Mott 
Henry Remsen 
Augustine van de Water 
Ichabod Webber 
Thomas Wells 



In other portions of the Line served : 

Theodoras Bailey as Adjutant, and George 

Harsen as Lieut, in the Levies. 
Anthony Post as Capt. 4th Regt. of Cavalry, 

Light Dragoons. 
Jeronimus Hooglandt as Capt., and John 

Stakes, Lieut, of Cavalry. 
Aris Remsen and John Stakes, privates in 

Capt. Alexander Hamilton's Train of 

Provincial Artillery. 
Richard Dyckman, Peter Kip, Oliver Lozier, 

and Benjamin Quackenbos, privates 

in Lieut.-Col. Ebenezer Steven's Regt. of 

Artillery. 

Benjamin and Samson Benson served in the war. 
Those interested in this line of research are referred to 
Archives of the State of N. Y., vol. i, 1887; N. Y. in the 
Rev., published by the State in 1898. 



54 Z\)c IRew l^ork of IJesterbai? 

Among the pensioners noted in the U. S. Census of 
1840 were: 

Dennis Striker, aged 80. 15th Ward. 
Seba Brinckerhoff " 82. 
Abraham Leggett " 87. 17th " 

; Those mentioned on the N. Y. Pension Roll are: 

Garret Oblenis, of N. Y. Co., private in 
Johnson's N. Y. Rangers. Pension com- 
menced March 4, 1793; placed on Roll 
Feb. 2, 1798, under law of that date. 

John Samler, of N, Y. Co., private 13th 
Regt. Inf., d. Oct. — 181 2. Heirs: John, 
George, Catharine, Andrew, Henry, and 
Maria Samler. Placed on Roll Sept. 23, 
1819. 

Richard Dyckman, private N. Y. Line, placed 
on Roll Sept. 29, 1818. Pension com- 
menced April 2, 1 81 8, d. May 23, 181 8. 

Abraham Leggett, Lieut. N. Y. Line, aged 67. 

Some other Bloomingdale enlistments are : 

Lawrence Kortright Lawrence Kortright, Jr. 

Isaac Leggett Jacob Leroy 

Harman van de Water 

the latter serving in the 2d Regiment of Dutchess 
County Militia. 

One of the most exciting incidents of the war in this 
neighborhood happened in Bloomingdale Village. A 
party of "rebels," says the Tory account of the occur- 
rence, landed on the shore during the night of Nov. 25, 
1777, near by the de Lancey mansion, where they sur- 
prised and made prisoners of a guard at the landing. 



Bloomlnabale iflDintant "55 

After breaking into and plundering the house and in- 
sulting the family, they set it afire. The de Lanceys 
and their guests sought refuge at the Apthorp mansion, 
after spending the night in their night clothes in the 
woods and swamps, now a part of Central Park. The 
location of the de Lancey house is not known with ex- 
actitude. We are told that it was "about seven miles 
from the City Hall." 

We have seen that the mansion at Striker's Bay was 
on the edge of the line of British defence. This locality 
was for long periods a hotbed of discord. For many 
years, the scattered residents of the district lived in 
daily fear and expectation of incursions and indignities. 
Mrs. Gerrit Striker, whose husband had lately died, op- 
posed the enlistment of her son for these reasons, feel- 
ing with just cause that his assistance at this juncture 
would be needed. It is known that during the battle 
of Harlem Heights he used the family wagon to convey 
the wounded from the field, and that the house was 
turned into a temporary hospital. Many a soldier of 
either side was cared for here with the aid of his mother. 
Twice the house was pillaged and finally all the live 
stock was driven off, Mrs. Striker begging, without 
success, that one cow at least be left them. Several 
skirmishes between the picket lines occurred on the 
immediate premises, in one of which a patriot and two 
Tories were killed in the lane. These were buried near 
where they fell. Early in the struggle, some officers 
were quartered in the house, and at least one party of 
captives was billeted on the inmates, pending their 
removal to improvised prisons at the lower end of the 
island, James Striker, one of the organizers of the 
Church at Harsenville, being absent at the war. His 
wife was lately a bride, and at the age of twenty-one, 



56 Z\)c IRew l?ork of IJesterba^ 

when the place was again invaded by the enemy in 1 78 1 . 
The slaves and servant men were driven off and the 
women compelled for days to cook and attend to the 
wants of their captors. 

The only instance of British aggression in Harsenville 
that has come to our notice took place at the Somerin- 
dyke house, that one in which Louis Philippe lived at a 
later and happier date. On one occasion, it was occu- 
pied for a fortnight by Hessians, at which time the fam- 
ily — self-made prisoners — were shut off in the garret. 
On the departure of the military, the building was found 
in a disgraceful and mutilated state; filth was every- 
where and almost every particle of wood had been 
chopped out and used to replenish the fires. 

The power of the British forces having been broken 
by the defeat and capture of Cornwallis at Yorktown, 
negotiations were set on foot for bringing about a peace. 
After the delay of nearly two years, a definitive treaty 
was signed at Paris, by commissioners appointed for 
that purpose, and preparations were made for vacating 
the city, the last of the British strongholds within the 
original thirteen States. At the request of Sir Guy 
Carleton, the British commander-in-chief, three com- 
missioners, viz., Egbert Benson, William S. Smith, and 
Daniel Parker, were appointed by Congress to superin- 
tend the embarkation from this port, that no negroes or 
other property of American inhabitants might be car- 
ried away. 

The record of the enemy's occupation of the city is 
one continued season of looting and debauchery. The 
very first thing they did was to break into the City Hall 
and plunder it of the College library, its mathematical 
instruments, valuable pictures, and scientific apparatus, 
all of which had been removed thither from King's (now 




'£ Ph 



I- Xi 



Bloomingbale fIDlIUant 57 

Columbia) College. The municipal government was 
overthrown, martial law prevailed, and the business of 
the city degenerated almost into the narrow operations 
of suttling. Many of the residents left the city and 
their deserted houses were taken possession of by the 
officers of the army and the refugee loyalists. Five 
thousand American prisoners were confined in the jails, 
sugar houses, and dissenting churches, and for seven 
years the city remained a prey to the licentiousness of 
strong and idle detachments of a well-provided army. 
Small wonder that "the rebels," so hated and feared 
in '76, were welcomed in '83. On November 3d the 
Continental army was disbanded by order of Congress 
and on the 21st Washington arrived at Day's Tavern, 
126th Street, 200 feet west of Eighth Avenue. It was 
not until the 25th that the British and their supporters 
took their leave. At 8 o'clock on the evening of that 
day, with General Knox at their head, the Continentals 
returned to take possession of the city. They marched 
from McGown's Pass (in present Central Park) down 
the old Post Road to its beginning at 23d Street, and 
continued on over "the Road to Bloomingdale " and 
through Bowery Lane. Thereafter Knox and a large 
concourse of citizens on horseback repaired to the site 
of the Bull's Head Tavern (where the old Bowery The- 
atre now stands) to receive the Commander-in-Chief 
and Governor Clinton. Accompanied by their suites 
and the Lieutenant-Governor and Senators, the officers 
of the army and the mounted citizens, eight abreast, 
and citizens on foot, four abreast, they entered the 
city, via the Bowery, Chatham and Pearl Streets 
to the Battery. Headquarters were taken up at 
Fraunces' Tavern, where at noon of December 4th, 
Washington bade farewell to his officers. (See James 



58 Zbc IRew IPorft of l?e0terbai? 

Peters's Evacuation Day, lySj, at the New York 
Historical Society.) 

During his residence here as President, his favorite 
drive was " The Fourteen Miles Around," which started 
at the Franklin House, northwest comer of Franklin 
Square and Cherry Street, proceeded up the Lane to the 
Post Road until it connected with Apthorp Lane, 
crossed that way to the Bloomingdale Road and south 
by that thoroughfare to the place of departure. In 
1789, some of the rates for coach hire from the stand 
at the Coffee House, Coffee House Slip, opposite Wall 
Street, were : For Horn's Tour, 8s. ; Apthorp's Tour, 165. ; 
Harlem, i day, 385.; ^ day, 305.; King's Bridge, i day, 
405. In 1 794 to go around the tour by Horn's, cost 10s. ; 
by Belleview, 165.; to Oakley's Tavern or Somerin- 
dyck's, £1.4.; to Hardenbrook's, ;^i.4. ; around Ap- 
thorp's Tour, £1.8.; to Harlem, i day, ;^i.i2.; ^ day, 
;^i.8.; to King's Bridge, £2.8. This was in pounds 
currency, worth just half as much as pounds sterling. 

After the war, the militia companies were officered 
by the Council of Appointment, instituted by the State, 
the life of which began in 1784 and terminated 182 1. 
Names and dates of appointment of Bloomingdale indi- 
viduals follow: 

Oct. 4, 1786. Nicholas de Peyster, Paymaster 4th Regt.; 
1797. Capt.-Lieut. of Lieut. Col. Bauman's 
Regt. of Artillery ; 1798, Senior Paymaster 
3d Regiment. 

May II, 1789. Ensigns: Henry Post, Lemuel Wells, Jacob 
Harsen, and James Striker. Later appoint- 
ments of Elder Striker and Deacons Harsen 
and Post will be found in their biographies. 

Mar. 12, 1790. Lieut. Lemuel Wells, in Lieut. Col. James 

. , , Alner's Regiment. He lived just north 



Bloomlndbale rOMIitant 5^ 

of the Harsen tract. (Vide map, page 
166) . He descended from Samuel Wells of 
of Wethersfield, Conn., who removed in 
1639 to Milford, Conn. He owned at 
his death the Manor House of the 
Philipse family, which is at present the 
Yonkers City Hall. In the churchyard 
of St. John's at Yonkers, this memorial 
is found: 

"Lemuel Wells, Esq., 

born in the City of Hartford, 

d. Feb. II, 1842, 

aged 82." 

1793. Lieut. Jasper Hopper in 5th N. Y. Regt 

(Hughes's); 1795, promoted Captain; 

resigned 1802. 
1797. Ensign: John R. Cozine in 3d Regt., N. 

Y. Co.; promoted Lieut. ; 1800, Capt.; 

1804, resigned, having "moved away." 

1797. Ensign: Oliver L. Cozine, in istRegt.; 1798, 

promoted Lieut. ; 1800, "transferred." 

1798. Ensign: Samuel A. Lawrence, in 2d Regt.; 

March 8, x8oo, Lieut 13th Co. 6th Regt.; 
Feb. 16, 1802, Capt. 6th Regiment. 

XLbe Tiraar ot 1812 



War's alarums once again sounded o 'er the peaceful 
vales of Bloomingdale. The second war with England 
was very unpopular in this city. Many veterans of the 
previous war were living here whose opinions were 
divided. Others of the populace disapproved of it. 
Jacob Barker was probably the most influential man, in 
his way, at that time and although he did not acquire 
property in Bloomingdale until May, 181 5, he cut such 
a figure in its history that his actions at this conjuncture ; 



6o Zbc ticvo l?orft of ipeater^ai? 

are interesting. Then, and for several years prior 
thereto, he was the largest ship-owner in the United 
States with the exception of William Gray of Salem, 
Massachusetts, says Guernsey's History of the War. 
He was prominent in Tammany, and was exploited 
through the columns of the press, in which his eccen- 
tricities were paraded, being liberal in the printing 
and distribution of matter that advocated his political 
ideas. He opposed the renewal of the Charter of the 
U.S. Bank and did much to defeat that project in 1811. 
His political opponents, in their scramble for office 
and power, attempted to break down his influence, 
which was great, not only among the wealthy but with 
those in humble life. The Federalists and their news- 
papers denounced and misrepresented him in every way 
that would impair his power, politically and other- 
wise. This only spurred him on to activity, zeal, and 
perseverance. 

"When the question of the war was thought to be the 
immediate course of Congress, after the embargo law of 
April, 181 2, Mr. Barker, looking to his own personal inter- 
est to choose between war and peace, and believing that 
the British Orders in Council would soon be rescinded and 
leave American ocean commerce free, drew a petition ask- 
ing Congress to continue the embargo and defer a declara- 
tion of war for a short period. He obtained the signatures 
of the most influential men in the city, of both parties, to 
this petition, which was presented to the Senate by Senator 
Smith, the only Democratic Senator from New York, on 
June 15, 181 2. On motion of Col. Taylor of South Caro- 
lina, it was ordered printed. 

This did not stem the tide. When, however, Congress, 
on February 18, 1813, passed an act authorizing the 
borrowing of $16,000,000, and in answer to advertised 




Portrait and signature of the Hon. Tiiornas R. Mercein, Comptroller 
of the City of New York and Treasurer of the Committee of 
Defence. Reproduced from the portrait in pos- 
session of his great-grandson, Daniel 
Stanbury Mercein, Esq. 



BIoomino^aIe fIDllltant 6i 

proposals only $4,000,000 were offered, Barker and a 
few associate merchants opened a subscription which 
he led with $100,000. Other Bloomingdale individu- 
als whose names appeared on this list were : 



Hannan Hendricks 


$40,000 


Gabriel Havens 


10,000 


Brockholst Livingston 


20,000 


John Howland 


50,000 


John S. Roulet 


10,000 


Gurdon S. Mumford 


20,000 


Ichabod Prall 


10,000 


John Clendening 


20,000 


Garrit Storm 


10,000 


Isaac Jones 


4,000 


Samuel Stilwell 


10,000 


Bradhurst & Field 




Wholesale Druggists 


5,000 


John Shute 


10,000 


Frederick de Peyster 


25,000 



The National Advocate of August 24, 18 14, published 
an appeal issued by the Committee of Defence, asking 
for donations to supply the immediate wants of the 
thousands of volunteers who flocked into the city from 
the interior of the State and elsewhere to serve in the 
military. Hon, Thomas R. Mercein, who had been 
named by the Council of Appointment, 1807, to organ- 
ize a third regiment of artillery, became a Captain 
therein in 18 10, Brigade Major 1813, nth Regiment of 
Artillery, was serving at this time as ist Major of the 
same regiment and in 181 5 succeeded Colonel Harsen as 
Lieutenant-Colonel thereof. Comptroller of the city, 
he was also treasurer of the committee and into his 
hands came the funds which were subscribed as a re- 
sult of this appeal. On August 29th, the committee 



62 Jn)c IBew ^ovk of l?e6terba^ 

made a report to the Gommon Council which contained 
the statement that "the expenses of whatever ad- 
ditional defences may be necessary for the city, both 
as to the erection of the works and the paying, provis- 
ioning, and accommodating men for our defence, must 
be derived from our resources or not obtained at 
all. If this city is to be defended from hostile attacks, 
the Corporation must provide the funds in the first 
place and look to the General Government for an in- 
demnification." A loan was thereupon authorized and 
subscription lists opened at all the banks, under the 
direction of the Finance Committee, of which Augustine 
H. Lawrence was chairman. In this way $1,000,000 
was obtained and put in charge of Mr. Mercein, the 
treasurer. Four hundred thousand dollars thereof 
was loaned to the United States on Treasury notes, 
personally guaranteed by Governor Tompkins. 

Fractional currency became so scarce because of the 
suspension of specie payments that on September 2, 
1814, the Common Council passed an ordinance author- 
izing its Finance Committee to issue small notes not to 
exceed twelve and a half cents each to the amount of 
five thousand dollars. On September 12th, twenty- 
five and fifty-cent bills, not to exceed twenty thousand 
dollars more, and on November 21st, fifty thousand 
dollars additional, were authorized. They were printed 
by F. & W. Mercein, 93 Gold Street. The proposition 
of the Comptroller on December 26, 18 14, that a fund 
be created looking to their redemption was adopted. 

This extract from the minutes of the Committee of 
Defence has not been heretofore published. 

Committee of Defence of the City of New York 
Extract from Minutes, March 4, 181 5. 

Resolved unanimously that the thanks of this Committee 



BIoominQ^aIe niMUtant 63 

be presented to Thomas R. Mercein, Esq., for his assiduity 
and faithful discharge of the important duties of Treasurer 
of this Committee, for the regularity of his accounts and 
vouchers, for encountering the fatigue, and expense of 
going to Washington at an inclement season, and par- 
ticularly for his correct, prompt, and satisfactory settlement 
of accounts with the 

General Government. 
Resolved that Five hundred dollars be appropriated to 
the purchase of Plate which he be requested to accept for 
his services above expressed. 

[Signed] Nich? Fish, 

Chairman of Committee. 

An engrossed copy of the above tribute and the ser- 
vice of plate, inscribed, " Presented to Col. Thomas R. 
Mercein by the Committee of Defence of the City of 
New York, 4th March, 181 5," are in possession of the 
Comptroller's grandchildren, the Heiser family, them- 
selves later residents of Bloomingdale. 

The news of the declaration of war was received by 
mail from Washington at about 9 o'clock on the morn- 
ing of June 20th, and was proclaimed to the troops by 
Gen. Joseph Bloomfield from his headquarters in the 
Fort (former Castle Garden). He was a Revolutionary 
officer and by commission, dated March 27, 1812, be- 
came Brigadier-General in command of all the fortifi- 
cations in New York City and harbor. Announcement 
of hostilities aroused the officers of the militia and vol- 
unteers from tranquillity. On the 24th, ninety pieces 
of field artillery, some of brass, others of iron, had arrived 
from Washington, which were distributed among some 
of the infantry regiments drilled as artillery. The 
uniformed corps of militia in April were composed, in all, 
of 3000 men. The first body of citizens to volunteer 



64 Z\)c "flew l?orft of ^CBtcxt>w^ 

labor and contribute services towards defence was 
Capt. Andrew Bremner's company of artillery, of Col. 
Cornelius Harsen's i ith Regiment, which work was done 
at Fort Greene in Brooklyn. On Sept. 12th, the of- 
ficers of this command met^and resolved to appropriate 
a portion of their pay to the support of the families of 
privates in the regiment ; and donations were asked from 
other persons for the same purpose, the pay of a private 
in the volunteers being only $6.66 a month. This regi- 
ment was a new one, being almost entirely recruited 
within the three months previous, and was composed of 
a battalion of artillery and one of infantry, having 
some 300 men. Harsen received his commission as 
Lieutenant-Colonel May 26, 181 2. On July 29th, it 
paraded for drill, when he proposed in an eloquent and 
patriotic speech that it volunteer its services. The sug- 
gestion was received with enthusiasm, and on Aug. ist 
the Colonel officially tendered the regiment to Gov- 
ernor Tompkins, who accepted by letter dated Aug. 8th 
addressed to Colonel Harsen. In September it was 
detailed to Bedloe's and Ellis's Islands, whither it was 
conveyed in schooners on the 12th, which position it 
held with distinction. In all that concerned the de- 
fence of New York during the war, says Col. Emmons 
Clark, in the History of the Seventh Regiment, Colonel 
Harsen was an active and popular leader and the proud 
position occupied by his regiment was due in no small 
degree to his energy, ability, and patriotism. At the 
close of the war (18 15) he resigned his commission and 
continued a prominent and distinguished citizen of the 
city until his death, which occurred in 1838, three years 
after the decease of his honored father. The monotony 
of routine military life in New York in 18 13 was relieved 
by the famous " Harsen-Gedney duel" — a duel which 



64 



ZfK f^C 



ii>ai? 



Comeliu. 
at Fort Gre( 



privates in tl 
other person 
in the voluni 
ment was a 
within the three . 
a battalion of a: 
some 300 mei 
Lieutenant-Qs^oi 




the Co^wtr^ft%^€ol. 



e was 
. ., of Col. 
^^'ork was done 
th, the of- 
ropriate 
irnihes of 
vverc asked from 
a)' :>f a private 
)th. Thisregi- 
i irel>' recniited 
IS composed of 
having 
^ i„.sion as 
■-n\ July 29th, it 
^j^^^^.uent and 
/ ^ /- The sug- 

n Aug, ist 
Cornelius Harsferfo Gov- 



ex-:>-; ■ '"^ ^ ^' " ■ - ■ 


: \ug, 8th 
Harsen Rhoades^JEsaj^^ 


..From the collection of the late John 




it was 




ition it 


1 ;'_iv ; ■.•<•■: 


he de- 


fence of . 


nimons 


Clark, in tht 


'it. Colonel 


Harsen was an ac 


- proud 


position occupied l; 


small 


degree to his energ;. 


At the 


close of the war (181 


on and 


continued a p • • - ^ 


of the 


city until his 


e years 


after the decease of Iv 


iiotony 


of routine Inilitar^ 


.'lieved 


by the famous 


whirli 



Bloomlngbale flDUltant 65 

was much talked of but never fought. Colonel Clark 
relates the incident in these words : 

Col. Harsen of the nth Regiment of Artillery, had, for 
good and sufficient reasons, relieved certain members of 
the Corps from fines imposed by Capt. Gedney of the ist 
Battery, acting as president of the regimental court- 
martial. Capt. Gedney was exceedingly offended at this 
action and at a meeting of the board of officers held in Feb., 
the irate Captain publicly used the most violent and insult- 
ing language towards Col. Harsen. At this period duelling 
was still a favorite method among military men of settling 
disputes and a hostile meeting of the belligerents was 
anticipated; but Col. Harsen having been brought before 
a magistrate and placed under bonds to keep the peace, 
and the officers of the regiment having interposed to pre- 
vent a collision, the affair was settled for the time by an 
apology from Capt. Gedney, who soon afterward retired 
from the regiment. In September, at a meeting of the 
board of officers, a letter from Capt. Gedney was handed 
to Col. Harsen which he publicly refused to receive and 
returned unopened. This letter was supposed to have 
been a formal challenge, for a few days afterwards the 
streets and public places were placarded with the following 
notice : 

"To THE Public. 

"Whereas, Lieut. Col. Harsen of the nth Regt. of 
Artillery has behaved in a very unbecoming manner and 
has refused to give that satisfaction which one gentleman 
has a right to expect from another, I hereby publish him 
to the world as an unprincipled coward and poltroon." 

Immediately upon the appearance lOf this placard, Col. 
Harsen was again arrested and held to bail to keep the 
peace. In a long card which was published in the daily 
newspapers, Col. Harsen stated the facts in the case and 



66 ^be Bew l^ork of IPeeterba^ 

proved that Gedney had instigated his repeated arrests 
for the purpose of protecting himself from deserved chas- 
tisement; too clearly did Col. Harsen vindicate himself, and 
in so ridiculous a position was his assailant placed, that 
the quarrel, which had been so long a subject of public 
gossip, degenerated into a farce. The officers of the nth 
Regiment also published a card confirming Col. Harsen's 
statement of the facts and testifying to his brave and 
honorable conduct on all occasions. The finale of the 
affair was a suit by Col. Harsen against Gedney for libel, 
which resulted in a compromise by which Gedney apolo- 
gized and consented to a verdict of one thousand dollars 
damages. 

The Evening Post of Dec. lo, 1814, states that: 

On Saturday last the nth Regiment under command 
of Lieut. Col. Harsen paraded for muster and inspection 
preparatory to a discharge from further duty in the service 
of the United States. Previous to the regiment being 
dismissed, Lieut. Col. Harsen delivered an address ap- 
propriate to the occasion. Subsequent to the parade, the 
officers assembled at the quarters of the North Battery, 
when a committee was appointed to wait upon Lieut. Col. 
Harsen to request a copy of the address for publication, 
which, with diffidence, was granted. 

The address thereupon follows in extenso. 

For two years it was thought the enemy would 
attack by water; consequently land fortifications were 
neglected. Induced thereto by the bombardment of 
Stonington, Conn., Aug. 10, 1814, earnest prepara- 
tions were undertaken to defend the northern ap- 
proaches to the city. Following the suggestion of 
Gen. Joseph G. Swift, Chief of Engineers and Super- 
intendent of Land Fortifications, who had made an 
examination of the topography with Gov. Daniel D. 



Bloomingbale fIDIlltant 67 

Tompkins, Commander of the Third U. S. Military 
District, and Mayor De Witt CUnton, the Committee 
of Defence, on which body served Alderman Nicholas 
Fish, Chairman, and Peter Hawes, met at the City 
Hall and called for volunteers. So great was the 
answer that by the 13th, 3000 men had been entered 
on the list. The Common Council thereupon author- 
ized the construction of a fort at McGown's Pass 
and the work was started on the morning of the i8th. 
This was named in honor of the Mayor. The N. Y. 
Columbian of that evening contained this announce- 
ment: 

Harlaem Heights. This morning the new works (at 
the gap or pass at McGown's, on the old Kingsbridge 
Road) on Harlaem Heights were commenced by the 
regiment of Col. van Beuren's militia (comprising all the 
companies from Spring Street to Kingsbridge) ; and Capt. 
Messeroe attended with a piece of his flying artillery to 
fire a salute on the occasion. 

On Friday, Aug. 19th, sixty men employed by Robert 
Macomb, Esq., in the construction of his mill-dam, 
turned out for work on the Heights. [N. B. This stone 
dam was finished and opened to the public Dec. 23.] 
On behalf of the Washington Benevolent Society, 
William A. Hardenbrook, Valentine Nutter, Jonathan 
Hardman, and Dirck Ten Brook were appointed to 
receive the signatures of volunteers in the Ninth Ward 
and at a meeting of the citizens thereof Gerard de Pey- 
ster, Jacobus Dyckman, Isaac Jones, Henry Post, and 
Joseph Mott, among others, were empowered to call 
on their fellow-citizens to aid by labor or subscriptions. 
They forwarded, as a result of their efforts, over seven 
hundred dollars to the Committee of Defence on 



68 Zhc 1Flew IPork of l^esterbap 

Aug. 2 2d. Jordan Mott was a member of a com- 
mittee representing the importers of the lower city, 
appointed at a meeting held at Martin's Hotel on the 
same date to offer the services of such citizens as 
enrolled. Ichabod Prall and Henry Post were dele- 
gated on the 23d by Tammany to receive contributions 
in the Ninth Ward. The inhabitants of the ward 
worked for the first time at Harlem on Monday the 
2 2d, and 450 more assembled at the works on the 
25th. On the following day an acknowledgment of 
the brigade of militia, dated at the "Cantonment at 
Harlaem Heights," of a donation of 350 bushels of 
potatoes from Messrs. Bradhurst & Field was pub- 
lished. It is noted that Anthony Post subscribed 
five dollars to the fund on the 27th, and on the 31st 
the Columbian prints: 

We passed through the camp on Harlaem Commons. 
The soldiers paraded and were a body of sturdy yeomanry 
and will receive their arms to-day. 

The journals of Sept. 2d tell of the mustering in 
of the militia the previous day "under the military 
law of the United States." The artillery, horse, and 
foot (including the Governor's Guards and some new 
corps raising), amounting to about 1200 men, with 14 
pieces of ordnance and equipage complete, and the 
small arms in perfect order, paraded on the Battery. 
The articles of war were read to them in detachments 
and received with cheers of approbation, when the line 
was taken up and the whole proceeded to join the 
brigade of infantry in Broadway, which formed a 
soHd column extending from the Park (City Hall) 
to the Battery. 

On this Friday (Sept. 2d) Lemuel Wells appeared at 








.cyic^^^^XyC^cci^yu-c^ 




Portrait and signature of Peter Hawes, Esq., of the Committee of 

Defence, from the oil painting in possession of his grandson, 

Gilbert Ray Hawes, Esq. 



Bloomlngbale flDlIitant 69 

Harlem with twenty men and five yoke of oxen for 
work on the fortifications. The Evening Post printed 
this advertisement on the previous day: 

Camp at Harlaem Heights, Aug. 27, 1814. 
The Brigade under the command of Brig. Gen. 
Hermance expresses its acknowledgment to Messrs. 
Valentine Nutter, James Beekman, Abraham Bra- 
zier, Henry Post, Mr. McGown, and the inhabi- 
tants of Harlaem for their friendly attentions to 
the officers and men by franking the use of their 
dwellings and barns during the unsettled state of 
the camp. 

David Wagstaff was thanked for the reception of 
the sick and for 10 bushels of potatoes and 10 of corn; 
Mr. Bogart for a quantity of carrots and cabbages and 
a gentleman of the Ninth Ward at Bloomingdale [James 
Striker] for 62 cabbages. Bradhurst & Field have 
contributed 130 additional bushels of potatoes. 

Signed, William Macomb, 
Brigade Quartermaster. 

The inability of obtaining meals caused Cato Alex- 
ander to announce in the Mercantile Advertiser on the 
3d the opening of a branch establishment in this wise: 

Harlaem Heights. 

Gentlemen who may be engaged to work on 
Harlaem Heights will please to take notice that on 
and after Monday next 5th of Sept., an ordinary 
will be opened and dinner on the table every 
day from half past 12 o'clock till 2 p.m. 

Cato was a colored man who kept a famous place on 
a lane known as Cato's Road, which began on the east 
side of Third Avenue not far from 42 d Street and 



70 ZCbe IRew l?ork of IPeeterba^ 

again reached that avenue just below Jones's Wood. 
It was located between 53d and 54th Streets at present 
Second Avenue, and was the terminus of the Drive from 
town. Here the horsemen of the day convened. He 
catered to an element contact with which, to quote 
another, 

had imparted to his gentle, modest nature an unpre- 
tending dignity of manner, which won the esteem of all who 
approached him and secured for his humble house of enter- 
tainment such a wide-spread reputation, that for years it 
was one of the prominent resorts of our citizens and at- 
tracted many of the prominent sightseers who made pil- 
grimages to the Island of Manhattan. 

On the 8th, the first delegation of Columbia students, 
100 in number, lent assistance, their slogan being the 
paraphrase from Horace: 

Let those dig now who never dug before 
And those who often dig, now dig the more ! 

Subscription lists had been opened by the Com- 
mittee of Defence to pay for 500 days* work, and on 
the loth the results were published. For the Third 
Ward these individuals subscribed: 

J. C. van den Heuvel $5.00 Stephen Jumel $25.00 

Alexander Hosack 2 .00 Jotham Post, Jr. 10.00 

Jacob Schieffelin 10.00 John W. Weyman 10.00 

In the Fourth Ward i 
Daniel Gassner $5.00 Christopher Milde- 

berger $10.00 

The Bloomingdale Ward (the Ninth) made a brave 
showing. Some of the contributors were: 



BIooming^aIe fllMUtant 71 

Frederick de Peyster $30 .00 J. C. van den Heuvel $20 . 00 

John Beekman 10.00 Nicholas de Peyster 20.00 

Samson Benson 20.00 Benjamin D, Benson 10.00 

Andrew McGown 10.00 John Hopper 10.00 

David M. Clarkson 10.00 James Beekman 10.00 

Valentine Nutter 5- 00 Samuel A. Lawrence 10.00 

Caspar Meier 5 • 00 Abraham Dyckman 2 . 00 

Widow Dyckman 2 . 50 William L. Rose 5 . 00 

Peter Meyer 5 . 00 Jacobus Dyckman 10.00 

William Holmes 2.50 Widow Cozine i.oo 

Andrew Hopper 2.50 Philip Webbers i.oo 

Abraham K. Beekman 5 . 00 Jacob Le Roy 5 . 00 

Widow Hardenbrook 2 . 00 Jacob Harsen 20.00 

Wm. A. Hardenbrook 10.00 Henry Post 5.00 

Effingham Schieffelin 5 . 00 Wm. Weyman 10.00 

John Asten 10.00 Stephen N. Bayard 20.00 

The inhabitants of this ward to the number of 200, 
with forty teams, turned out for work at the Heights 
on Wednesday the 21st, together with a detachment 
of 400 militia. 

In the meantime the Brooklyn fortifications were 
progressing. On the 29th, 500 individuals belonging 
to the churches under the pastoral charge of the Rev. 
Drs. Kuypers and Milledoler and the Rev. Messrs. 
Burk, Mathews, and Rowan labored there, and on 
Oct. 4th the pupils of Mr. Bansel's school, forty-three 
in number, and on the 8th thirty of the Orphan Asylum 
boys also aided. These two were later Bloomingdale 
institutions. John Randall, Jr., advertised on the 
5 th that he had withdrawn his map from the hands 
of the engraver, the impropriety of furnishing the 
enemy with such accurate information of the topog- 
raphy of the country having been suggested. 

Much excitement was caused this month by the 
announcement that the enemy's fleet were in the 



72 ^be IFlew l^ork of ipeeterbai? 

Sound and construction was renewed with unabated 
vigor. The Committee of Defence issued another call, 

having reason to believe that the city is in great danger 
of an attack and that it may be reasonably expected to 
take place within a few weeks. They deem it proper thus 
publicly to make it known and to call on their fellow 
citizens for a renev/al of their patriotic labours without 
delay for a completion of the defenses at Harlaem. 

Six hundred men of Gen. Steddiford's Brigade (Col. 
Ward's regiment) worked at Harlem on the 13th, 
14th, 17th, and 1 8th, and 500 under Col. Laight on the 
15th. The Columbian of the i8th stated that 

on Friday morning Oct. 14th, the Regiment of City In- 
fantry commanded by Col. Edward W. Laight broke 
ground in the height above their encampment and in true 
military style, under a salute of small arms, named the 
post after their respected Colonel, "Fort Laight." Some 
officers in the meantime by strategem detained him in the 
encampment, unadvised of the compliment until com- 
pleted. The Regiment was relieved on Saturday by a 
detachment of Col. Ward's Regiment. 

This command labored on the 19th, 21st, and 22d. 
Sunday no delegation was appointed but on Monday 
the 24th Col. Dodge's regiment of Gen. Mapes's bri- 
gade, 750 men, took up the work and continued at it 
during the week ending the 29th. Work was stopped 
at Brooklyn on the 27th and all eftorts weie concen- 
trated at Harlem. On Oct. 31st Col. Isaac A. van 
Hook's regiment of the same brigade began work, 
at first numbering 450 and finishing the week's labor 
with 650 men. This was the last regiment so em- 
ployed. The chain of fortifications thus completed 
commenced with a redoubt at Benson's Point (Third 




BLOCK TOWER, NO. 1, IN CENTRAL PARK, 1864 



Bloomlnobale fllMUtant 73 

Avenue and io6th Street), ran west to the works at 
the Pass where there was a Barrier Gate, on to the Bat- 
tery near the house of Valentine Nutter, and continued 
south and east by means of a breastwork to Fort 
Fish, named for the chairman of the Committee, which 
lay opposite Fort Clinton. Another defence in the 
chain was the Blockhouse (No. i) now existing in 
Central Park just south of where 109th Street and 
Seventh Avenue would cross. Other distinctive works 
in Bloomingdale were the stone tower between 113th 
and 114th Streets, Columbus and Amsterdam Ave- 
nues, another on the south side of 121st Street about 
1 10 yards east of the latter avenue, a similar tower on 
the south side of 123d Street about 54 yards east 
of said avenue, and Fort Laight about twenty yards 
north of 124th Street and 120 yards east of Eleventh 
Avenue. (Vide Public Papers of Gov. Tompkins, vol. 
i., 76-7; McGown's Pass and Vicinity, by Edward 
Hagaman Hall; Ulman's Landmark History.) The 
Committee of Defence acknowledged in the press Nov. 
9, 1 8 14, the donation of flagstaff s for the works at 
Harlem from William A. Hardenbrook, Esq., Assistant 
Alderman of the Ninth Ward, who had just been re- 
elected with Nicholas Fish as Alderman. Five hun- 
dred and seventy pieces of cannon and mortars were 
mounted for the defence of the city, a number of 
Columbiads of 50 pounds calibre at Fort Greene being 
among them. The "handsome and formidable park 
of field artillery and battalion guns" belonging to the 
brigades of militia are not included in this enumer- 
ation. 

Gen. Swift's Report on Fortifications of December, 
1814, is made a part of the final report of the Common 
Council. In describing the defences which covered 



74 Z\)c 1Rew IPorft of l^eaterbap 

a portion of the site of the battle of Harlem Heights, 
it states: 

At a battery marked on the plan [Fort Laight] com- 
mences a line of entrenchments with faces and flanks, 
crossing the Bloomingdale Road to a commanding height 
on Mark's [sic] grounds and running along its summit to 
the banks of the North River which falls abruptly and 
nearly perpendicularly to the water's edge. 

This property was that of Asher Marx, who m. 
Mary, niece of Johannah Beekman, a benefactress of 
the Church at Harsenville. She resided with her 
husband, Abraham K. Beekman, at present 120th 
Street near the river, and Marx's house was situated 
between 123d and 124th Streets on the same bluff. 
It was known as " Monte Alta. " " The works compre- 
hended in the foregoing description," continues the 
Report, 

have been chiefly constructed by the labour of the citizens 
of the city of New York, Long Island, and neighboring 
towns along the North River and in New Jersey. All 
classes volunteered, supplying daily working parties of 
from 500 to 1500. The fortifications are testimonials 
of patriotic zeal. 

The works at McGown's Pass were erected under 
the immediate direction of Major Joseph Horn, a 
descendant of John Horn "of the Bloomingdale Road" 
as Riker's History of Harlem has it. James Horn of 
the same family served as Ensign in the 51st Regiment, 
3d brigade of infantry, by appointment April 2, 18 13. 
He was Lieutenant in Col. van Hook's regiment in 
1 81 5 and resigned June 21st of that year. James 
de Peyster was Ensign in the 3d Regiment, 181 1, 
promoted to Lieutenant in 181 2, and resigned the same 



Bloomlngbale fIDilitant 75 

year to enlist in the U. S. Army. James F. de Peyster 
served as Ensign in the 97th Regiment, appointed 
thereto in 1813. Another well-known resident of 
Bloomingdale did his part in defence of his native 
city. The troops by orders dated Sept. ist, were pro- 
visionally consolidated into two regiments. Garrit 
Hopper Striker served as Captain of the 4th Company, 
commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel van Hook (Vide 
Guernsey, vol. 11., 557). His services will hereafter 
be mentioned. On Feb, 22, 1900, the United States 
Daughters of 18 12 caused to be erected one of a series 
of bronze tablets intended to mark points which gained 
historic interest during that war. It had been decided 
to place it on Blockhouse No. i, but owing to the 
isolated position of this tower and the likelihood of 
the memorial being hidden from view by foliage, the 
plan was changed. The Board of Trustees of Columbia 
University then sanctioned its being afHxed to the wall 
of Fayerweather Hall, on Amsterdam Avenue facing 
117th Street, which it now adorns. 
To commemorate 
NEW YORK CITY DEFENCES 

during the War of 181 2, 

Barrier Gate, McGown's Pass, 

Barrier Gate, Manhattanville, 

Forts Clinton, Fish, and Haight, 

and three stone towers. 

Also in honor of 
Maj,-Gen. GARRIT HOPPER STRIKER, 

(then captain). 
5th Regiment, 2d Brigade. 



• Erected by U. S. D. 1812. 
Empire State February 22, 

Society, 1900. 



76 ZTbe IRew l^orft of IPesterba^ 

The tablet is incorrect in commemorating Fort 
Haight. It should be Laight. The ruins of the tower 
at 123d Street and Amsterdam Avenue (within 
Momingside Park) were marked by a memorial erected 
by the Women's Auxiliary to the American Scenic and 
Historic Preservation Society, on Saturday, June 4, 
1904. These are the remnants of Fort Horn, named 
in honor of the Major who supervised the general 
construction of the defences. On Feb. 23, 1898, on the 
occasion of a flag-raising there, this name was used. 
It should be preserved. A bronze tablet on the site 
of Fort Clinton was put up by the children of the City 
History Club, Nov. 24, 1906. The works at Harlem 
Heights were pronounced by the press at the date of 
their construction as being "numerous, compact, and 
judicially placed and form a romantic and picturesque 
view, as well as an impassable barrier to an enemy's 
march. " They were never tested, the Treaty of Ghent 
being signed on Dec. 24, 181 4. Intelligence thereof 
was received at 8 o'clock on the Saturday evening of 
Feb. nth, by the British sloop-oi-wax Favorite, 42 days 
from Plymouth, and by 10 o'clock the city was vol- 
imtarily illuminated. As Edward Hagaman Hall's 
monograph entitled, McGown's Pass and Vicinity, 
a learned historical review to which attention is called, 
states, "the first months of 181 5 saw McGown's Pass 
deserted." Thus the second chapter in the military 
chronicles of Bloomingdale Heights is brought to a 
close. 

The land on which "the Pass" was located was a 
part of twenty acres lying within the Harlem line 
which was purchased by George Dyckman of the 
Bloomingdale family in 1729. He had married, 1712, 
a daughter of Teunis Idese van Huyse, who, in dividing 



BIoominQ^ale flDlIUant 77 

his farm, gave (1720) one section thereof to Dyckman. 
From another son-in-law (Abram Montanye), Dyck- 
man purchased an adjoining section at the same time 
that he acquired the land at the Pass. These twenty 
acres he sold with other lands in 1748 to Adolph Benson 
and Jacob Dyckman, Jr. The latter was of the Kings- 
bridge family, which, so far as can be ascertained, is not 
related to that of Bloomingdale. He had married circa 
1742, Catalina, daughter of Samson Benson, the sister 
of said Adolph. On his ten acres he constructed 
a stone house on the hill on the east side of the Post 
Road, where he kept a tavern. The Colonial Assem- 
bly met there from October 24 to November 11, 
1752, during which time Governor George Clinton and 
Council, while in attendance, stopped at the neighbor- 
ing house of Benjamin Benson. After Captain Daniel 
McGown, a seafaring man of Scotch nativity, who had 
married Catharine Benson, was lost at sea, his widow 
bought the Dyckman property and, with the assist- 
ance of her son Andrew, continued the business. 
This pass in the Post Road thereupon took the name 
of the new proprietor, having theretofore been known 
in succession by the name of Dyckman and Benson, 
former owners. The son Andrew likewise connected 
himself with the Bensons by marrying Margaret 
Benson in 1784. The date of the painting is indefi- 
nite and shows the locality from an easterly point of 
view. Mount St. Vincent in Central Park, seen in 
the distance, occupied the site of the original Jacob 
Dyckman house and was built on its foundation. 
The viaduct, where the train is noticed, is present 
Fourth Avenue, and Third Avenue dominates the 
foreground. The smaller house with the gable end 
in sight is the McGown house. The first house on the 



78 Z\)c IRew l?ork of ^CBtcv^a^ 

site was burned by the Indians and during the Revolu- 
tion only the cellar walls were standing. It was later 
rebuilt of stone. It faced on io6th Street when that 
thoroughfare was laid out. The large stone house 
shown on Third Avenue was constructed by Samson 
Benson McGown, son of the Andrew above mentioned, 
bom 1797, Assistant Alderman of the Twelfth Ward, 
1852 and 1853. It was built prior to 1850 and this 
circumstance fixes, in a measure, the date of the picture. 
The culvert carries Third Avenue over Harlem Creek 
("the Canal," in the local parlance of later Dutch 
residents), an estuary of the East River, the mouth of 
which lay between present io6th to iioth Streets and 
overflowed considerable territory generally lying be- 
tween 105th and io8th Streets as far east as Fourth 
Avenue, where a swamp spread from 103d to io8th 
Streets. The source of the stream which ran through 
it was at 135th Street, between Tenth and Eleventh 
Avenues, and another branch at 121st Street and Tenth 
Avenue. Harlem Mere in Central Park is the only 
present-day reminder of this creek. This waterway 
was known in early Dutch history as Montagne's Kill, 
after Dr. Johannes de la Montagne, the Huguenot 
pioneer settler of Harlem who arrived from Holland 
in 1636 and obtained a grant of 200 acres hereabouts, 
from Governor Kieft. To this plantation he gave 
the sentimental name of Vreden-dal — peace or quiet 
dale — a retreat which did not prove entirely peaceful, 
as the red man lurked too near at hand. The Benson 
stone house stood until 1865 in 109th Street between 
Second and Third Avenues, and there Hannah, the 
daughter of John Horn and widow of Peter Benson, 
was joined in marriage in 1804 to the Rev. John 
Frelinghuysen Jackson, the minister of the church 




^ ^ 
s" K 





Bloomlngbalc flDlIitant 79 

at Harlem and later of that at Sleepy Hollow made 
memorable by Washington Irving. 

This letter from a Bloomingdale boy should be 
added. The writer was the son of the Rev. George 
Strebeck, founder and first rector of St. Stephen's 
Church, and was at the date thereof seventeen years of 
age, having run away to seek glory on the sea, from 
his uncle Jordan Mott's residence, where he was stop- 
ping during his father's absence in the South seeking 
health. His mother had died two years previously. 

On board the United States Brig Niagara 
ON Lake Erie, Nov. 9, 1813. 

Dear Uncle: — 

After a variety of misfortunes you will at length 
find me on Lake Erie. The limits of this small sheet of 
paper and my time will not allow me to recount the various 
scenes I have gone through since last I saw you. Suffice 
it to say that three times I have been made prisoner, twice 
by the British; once carried to Jamaica (W. I.), once to 
Halifax ; and once by the Algerians and carried to Tunis. 

Both times that I was taken by the English I was regu- 
larly exchanged and sent once to Boston, from which 
place I wrote a letter to you but never received the scratch 
of a pen in answer, and once to New Orleans where I wrote 
another and being destitute of money and clothes was 
obliged to enter in the States' service on board the Brig 
Syren. I sailed from New Orleans to New York but was 
obliged by stress of weather to put into Boston when I was 
drafted to go on Lake Ontario and was ordered on board 
the General Pike. As soon as she was ready for sailing, 
I was again drafted for the upper Lake where I went on 
board the Lawrence, but was shortly transferred from her 
to the Niagara, on board of which vessel I was during the 
action the event of which decided the fate of Canada and 
in which action I was severely wounded in the head but 



8o Zbe 1Rew l?ork of jjeeterbai? 

by good attendance have recovered. The account of the 
action no doubt you have seen in the papers and as I have 
not time, I will not describe it. It is uncertain whether 
we shall remain here this winter or not. If we do not, 
in all probability we shall come to New York when I shall 
have the satisfaction of seeing you and the rest of my 

friends. . . . 

Your affectionate nephew, 

Jordan Mott Strebeck. 

The London Gazette of Nov. 19, 18 14, contained an 
account of the capture, after a chase of eleven hours, 
by H. M. S. Medway, Captain Brine, on July 12th, of 
the U, S. brig-of-war Syren of 16 guns and 137 men. 
It adds that during the chase, the prize threw over- 
board all her guns, boats, anchors, cables, and spars. 










o S 



'Tit^ iiimtM 



Ill 
1bar0ent)llle 

TLbC limits of this hamlet are no more definitely 
defined than those of other settlements in the Bloom- 
ingdale District. It was a local appellation and took 
its name from the Harsen family which came to live 
therein in 1763. For the purposes of this compilation 
its confines are limited to the Somerindyck and Dyck- 
man farms and part of the de Lancey, afterwards 
the Apthorp, tract. The farm first mentioned stretched 
from 57th to 70th Streets, and from the Commons to 
the river. The southwest comer of Central Park ab- 
sorbed a strip of it lying generally between 59th and 
68th Street, as far east as Sixth Avenue. The entire 
territory to and beyond the Bloomingdale Church, 
the belfry of which is seen in the distance in the view 
reproduced, was included in this great farm. Prior 
*o i73S> it was acquired by Etienne de Lancey, the 
Huguenot, who settled in New York in 1686, becoming 
one of his Majesty's Council. He devised it to his 
children, five sons and two daughters. The will of 
Stephen, one of the former, was proved in 1746, leaving 
his share to his brothers and sisters. Of the latter, 
Susannah had married Sir Peter Warren of British 
naval fame, then living in the city, and Anne, the 
Hon. John Watts, who also served as a member of the 

6 81 



82 Zbc mew ^ov\{ of IJeeterba^ 

Council. Peter and Oliver, other sons, and these 
sisters executed a partition deed in 1747 to their elder 
brother James, who was Lieutenant-Governor of this 
province. He died in 1760, when his eldest son and 
namesake inherited the property by right of primo- 
geniture. By act of the Legislature passed Oct. 22, 
1779, he was attainted of treason, and these premises, 
containing 200 acres, were sold by the two Commis- 
sioners of Forfeiture and bought in by John Somerin- 
dyck, Oct. 19, 1784. When the new owner died six 
years later, he was survived by two sons and three 
daughters. The Ward, Cargill, Nash, and Low prop- 
erties, already described, occupied the southerly part 
of the tract. 

Sarah Somerindyck became the wife of John H. 
Talman, a vestryman of St. James's Church in Hamilton 
Square, heretofore mentioned. Their home lay be- 
tween 67th and 69th Streets on the west side of Tenth 
Avenue. The house was frame, three stories high, 
and the extensive grounds sloped to the river. A 
handsome grove of oaks and chestnuts fronted the 
avenue, flanked by a fine elm at one end of the house 
and a large button-ball at the other. A fish pond, 
covering half an acre, whereon was a private ice-house, 
were features of the place. Water therefor was sup- 
plied by springs from a stream which started in a 
swamp at 75 th Street and crossed the Bloomingdale 
Road under a culvert just north of 73d Street, and 
ran its course to the Hudson River between 68th and 
69th Streets. In 1852 this property was rented by 
Robert H. Arkenburgh, the tobacco merchant, whose 
family lived there for seventeen years. Mrs. Talman 
died April 30, 1867, and the property was partitioned 
and sold the following April. 



IbarsenvlIIe 83 

On a portion of the farm which fell to Abigail Somer- 
indyck, the widow of Leonard Thorn, a triangle be- 
tween 69th and 70th Streets west of Tenth Avenue, 
was located a one story and attic house with Dutch 
gables, fiat and rambling in architecture with wings 
on either end. Piazzas surrounded it on three sides, 
and the main front faced the south. Its situation in 
a dense forest made it hardly visible from the Road, 
and the stream above mentioned, which crossed the 
grounds, lent a picturesque diversion. This plot was 
purchased in 1815 for $3000, by Jacob Barker, the 
famous Quaker banker, broker, and speculator in 
general, whose eccentricities were the talk of the day. 
It was his custom to drive his four-in-hand to and from 
business in the Wall Street section, via the Blooming- 
dale Road. Fitz-Greene Halleck entered his counting- 
room in the warehouse yet standing on South Street, 
near Burling Slip, in June 181 1, where the poet-clerk 
remained for twenty years. For seventeen years 
thereafter he was employed in the office of John Jacob 
Astor. Charles F. Park lived in the Barker house 
at a later period, whose daughter Anna was con- 
sidered the belle of Harsenville with Miss Annie Cargill 
a close second. Mr. Park was a wholesale tea and 
coffee merchant on West Street, near Liberty. The 
family, which left Bloomingdale in 1849, were not 
identified with the local church, which they attended 
on occasions, as they belonged to the Duane Street 
Church. He died in 1865, aged 49. The property 
was known as the Reynolds place when torn down 
about a dozen years ago. 

The Dyckman farm, containing 188 acres, adjoined 
the Somerindyck farm on the north. It was acquired 
from Rebecca, the widow of Adrian van Schaick, in 



84 TOe flew IPorft of lPe6ter^a1? 

1 70 1 for ;iS45o. Cornelius Dyckman, to whom the deed 
ran, was the son of Johannes, who was bom at Leeu- 
warden, in Friesland, in 1647, and came out to Fort 
Orange where he filled the office of Chief Clerk and 
Vice-Director of the colony. The son married Jan- 
netje, daughter of Dirck Claessen Potter, an original 
patentee of Harlem, and settled in Albany County at 
Niskayuna on lands which he was compelled to aban- 
don in 1690 at the French and Indian invasion. He 
found a temporary home in Bergen County, New 
Jersey, but removed to Harlem where he was constable 
in 1698. While living in Bloomingdale in 17 19 he 
disposed of a part of his Niskayuna lands to Evert 
van Ness. Dyckman was a farmer but tilled only 
small sections of the large, heavily wooded farm. 
He died prior to 1722 at his homestead, which stood 
facing the Road in the block north of the northwest 
corner of present Tenth Avenue (Amsterdam) and 
70th Street. When the avenue was opened the house 
was left in a diagonal position to that thoroughfare. 
Of his children Wyntie married Johannes Kortright, 
Cornelia, Jacob Harsen, and Elizabeth, John Sprong. 
The will devised the farm to the sons George and 
Cornelius. The latter sold his share to his brother 
in 1736 for ;£225, who directed his executors, John 
Harsen (married his daughter Rachel in 1749) Garret 
Cozine (married his daughter Jannetje four months 
later) , and Jacob Leroy, to sell his realty. By inden- 
ture dated 1763 they deeded 94 acres to Jacob Harsen 
(the brother of John) , who conveyed one half thereof 
to Garret Cozine and the balance to Johannes Harsen. 
Cozine, dying in 1773, divided his interest into thirds, 
subject to a life estate in the widow, and through the 
death of Cornelius and Hannah, the other heirs, 



JfMmEMFILLE BIST 




IbarsenvUIe 85 

Catharine Cozine became vested with the whole 
southerly half of the tract in question. She inter- 
married with Jacob Harsen in 1773, who was a nephew 
of the Jacob Harsen first above mentioned, and this 
half, with the easterly portion of the northerly half, 
formed the well-known Harsen farm. 

After the marriage the Harsens lived in the family 
homestead where the bride had resided with her par- 
ents, and it was in the parlor of this house, then occu- 
pied by them, that a number of the neighbors met 
one dark and stormy night in September of 1805 and 
organized a Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, under 
the name of The Church at Harsenville, as the hamlet 
which had grown up thereabouts was denominated. 
At this foregathering the organization was duly ce- 
mented by the election as members of the first Consis- 
tory of 

Andrew Hopper James Striker 

Jacob Harsen Philip Webbers 

all descendants of Holland progenitors and of one 
family connection, at the mention of whose names 
arise memories redolent of old Bloomingdale. 

That important thoroughfare, the Harsenville Road, 
began at the east line of the Bloomingdale Road, be- 
tween 71st and 72d Streets, and ran diagonally across 
the territory now composing Central Park to the Old 
Post Road (Third Avenue). In 1803 Harsen and 
another landowner had fpetitioned the Common 
Council respecting the opening of a cross road between 
the Middle (Sixth Avenue) and the Post roads and 
on June 27th the then Street Commissioner, Joseph 
Brown, to whom it had been referred on the 20th, 
reported that, although the making of cross roads had 



86 Zhe 1Rew l^orft of l^eeterba^ 

not been a condition of the alternate sale and leasing 
of lots by the city on the Commons, yet it was gen- 
erally understood to be an implied one and should, 
in his opinion, "be immediately attended to as ben- 
efiting the lots sold, increasing public convenience, 
and promoting the interest of the Corporation in 
giving additional value to their property. " So he 
recommended that the prayer of the petitioners be 
granted, that the Road Master be directed to cause 
the said cross road to be worked and opened forthwith, 
and that the same be done either by contract or 
otherwise as said Road Master may deem best for the 
public interest. The report was thereupon confirmed 
and the Street Commissioner was directed to receive 
and submit contracts for the work. 

Prior to this application there had been a farm road 
in use at this location, i. e., from the Bloomingdale 
to the Middle roads, and the above contemplated work 
was intended to extend it to the Post Road, — as is 
evidenced by this entry in the minutes of the Board, 
1804 (vol. xiv., 521) : 

The Committee to whom was referred the matter of 
widening and improving the road near Alderman Harsen's 
in Bloomingdale to the Middle Road, reported that they 
had advertised for proposals and that from the several 
received that of Abel Thayer and others was the lowest. 
The contract was confirmed to them accordingly. 

Some sixteen acres of the northernmost portion of 
the farm which was chosen by George Dyckman under 
the terms of the will, lydng between the Road and the 
river, and 7 2d and 73d Streets, came into pos- 
sesvsion of John Broome in 1801. He became Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of the State three years later and was a 
prominent member of many commercial and char- 



Ibarsenvllle 87 

itable organizations. Bullock Street was changed to 
Broome Street, in his honor on April 7, 1806. Broome 
County likewise preserves his name. The house 
thereon was located in the centre of the plot on the 
west side of the Road, between the streets above 
stated, and was called "Chevilly. " This was built 
by Mme. d'Auliffe, dame d'honneur to Marie An- 
toinette. The tragedies of the Reign of Terror caused 
a large exodus of emigres to America and this member 
of the court circle came with the first refugees, many 
of whom gravitated toward Bloomingdale. With 
her came her three little daughters. In this pretty 
house, erected in the French style, she set up an es- 
tablishment that was much admired for its elegance 
and good taste. It became the centre to which was 
attracted many who found an asylum on these shores, 
among whom some of the old New York families were 
welcome guests. Among its constant visitors was 
the Marquis de Cubieres, a gallant of the vanished 
court, who was a fine type of the gentleman of the 
ancient regime, though, perhaps, never quite recon- 
ciling himself to the institutions of republican America. 
He named his horse "Monarque, " and, mounted 
thereon, he might have been seen making frequent 
pilgrimages out into the country from his home in 
Broad Street, to visit his friends at Chevilly. Another 
welcome guest was Col. August de Singeron who had 
commanded the Cuirassiers of the Guard at the Tuil- 
eries on the fatal Tenth of August. After having seen 
the last of his hapless sovereign, whose refuge in the 
Assembly was but the antechamber to the prison 
and the scaffold, the Colonel fled by way of L'Orient 
to this country. When the young Due d' Orleans and 
his brothers, the Due de Montpensier and the Prince 



88 XLbc 1Rew ©ork of IJesterba^ 

de Beaujolais, came to New York, they soon found 
their way to Chevilly, where Madame and her little 
circle made the fugitives feel less poignantly the loss of 
country, rank, home, and kindred, surrounding them 
with an atmosphere that reminded them of Versailles. 
In after years, when King of the French, Louis Philippe 
used to speak with gratitude of the hospitality extended 
to him in that time of adversity. 

The great Talleyrand was always a welcome arrival. 
Another Frenchman who at this time made New 
York his home was the famous General Moreau, the 
rival of Napoleon in popular favor and the victim of 
that eminent man's jealousy. The Moreaus lived 
at 119 Pearl Street, a handsome building which was 
destroyed in the fire of 1835. We can well imagine 
he was also a guest at Chevilly, for he had property 
interests near by. In April, 1810, he had loaned some 
money to Abigail Somerindyck, then the wife of Wil- 
liam T. Cock, taking a mortgage as security, on some 
of the lands of the farm she inherited. An act of the 
Legislature, passed March 29, 1809, had authorized 
the General and his wife to hold realty within this State, 
and when, in 181 5, decree of foreclosure was entered 
and sale thereunder effected, the property was bid in 
for his estate by John S. Roulet who conveyed it to 
Moreau's widow in 181 7. On her death, the Vicom- 
tesse de Courval, her daughter, as sole heir, through 
her attorney, Henry C. de Rahm, conveyed it in 181 9 
to John Low. Subsequent!}^ an act was passed April 
21, 1828, which enabled her to inherit said land and 
removed the cloud on the title. This is the property 
which has been described in the first chapter. 

The Somerindyck house, which stood at the north- 
west corner of the Road and 75th Street, until it was 



Ibarscnvllle 89 

torn down to make way for the Boulevard in 1868, 
was the second oldest in Harsenville, the priority 
being held by the Dyckman-Harsen mansion. Of 
essentially Dutch architecture, fifty by eighty feet 
in dimensions, it had a steep shingle roof and the usual 
stoep flanked by the customary lateral seats. Here 
Louis Philippe Hved. He was often actually in need, 
as were the young princes who accompanied him, and 
to gain a livelihood taught school during his stay in 
Bloomingdale. The room in which his classes met 
was maintained in the same condition as during his 
occupancy until the building was razed. The fire- 
place was finished with rows of blue and white Antwerp 
tiles, ornamented with Bible chapter and verse to which 
the decoration referred, indicated in large characters 
thereunder. This house was one of the sights of 
Bloomingdale in the old days. The French invasion 
added greatly to the gayety and brilliance of society, 
and left its impress on the locality. Other well- 
known families were the L'Estranges, de Neuvilles, 
and de Rivieres. M. Jumel, although not to the 
manor born, was well received because of his kindliness 
and the popularity of his famous wife. He owned 
land in Bloomingdale, on which they lived, the house 
being located between 77 th and 78th Streets on the 
east side of present Amsterdam Avenue, and Madame 
was a contributor to the funds of the Orphan Asylum 
and a benefactress by legacy to the tune of $5000. 
The Broome property, under his widow's will, fell 
to her brother James and her sisters Sarah and Julia 
Boggs, the latter of whom intermarried with John 
W. Livingston, and these conveyed it to Joseph 
Simpson in 182 1, who the same year transferred it to 
James Boggs for $8000. In 1867, the latter's heirs- 



90 tCbe IRew ©orR of IJeeterbap 

at-law sold it to Gustavus A. Sacchi for $400,000. At 
one time the house was occupied by John Lozier, 
Alderman of the Sixth Ward, and later certain well- 
known bachelors and men about town used it as a club 
house and driving resort. Among them were August 
Belmont, Appleton the publisher, and Frederick S. 
Talcott, the broker. 

A portion of the southern part of the Teunis Somer- 
indyck Farm, which lay between the Dyckman and 
van den Heuvel properties, was purchased by the 
Orphan Asylum Society, a Presbyterian institution, 
in 1834. The first of its kind in the city, it was or- 
ganized in the spring of 1806 at a meeting of ladies 
held at the City Hotel, then on the site of the Boreel 
Building. Mrs. Sarah Hoffman and Mrs. Alexander 
Hamilton were chosen First and Second Directresses 
and Mrs. Bethune Treasurer, It was located originally 
in Greenwich village, and Asylum Street, since changed 
to West Fourth, and Bethune Street are reminders of 
its existence there. A fine portrait of Eliza, second 
daughter of Philip Schuyler, who married Gen. Ham- 
ilton in 1780, is preserved on the walls of the present 
institution at Hastings-on- the- Hudson. While closely 
connected with prominent men and events during her 
lengthened days, a woman of mark and a leader of 
society, she always had time and thought to devote 
to its welfare, which she served for forty- three years. 
She died at Washington, D. C, in 1854. Lying just 
north of the monument erected to her illustrious 
husband by the Corporation of Trinity Church is a 
slab, on a level with the ground, which covers her 
remains in old Trinity Churchyard. 

Joanna Bethune was the daughter of Nicholas and 
Sarah (Ogden) Hoffman and married Divie Bethune, 



%,. 




IbarscnvlUe 91 

the well-known Scotch philanthropist. She became 
the mother of that noted pulpit-orator the Rev. Dr. 
George W. Bethune and died at the age of :92 in i860. 
The comer-stone of the Bloomingdale structure 
was laid June 9, 1836. After prayer by the Rev. 
Dr. Knox of the Reformed Dutch Church he ad- 
dressed the orphans, and the stone was dedicated by 
Mr. Richmond, rector of St. Michael's. The contract 
price was $35,000. The report of the Trustees of 
1840 comments on the change of location, and recites 
that the grounds afforded ample room for exercise 
and recreation, the garden supplied the inmates with 
fruit and vegetables, and there being pasture for 
several cows wholesome milk had been added to their 
simple breakfast; "while the abounding river invig- 
orated the frame by a saline bath and by casting a net 
into it furnished an occasional dinner of fresh fish." 
The inmates attended the Church for many years, 
having pews at one time in the gallery but generally 
on the main floor. Two spacious wings and a new 
story were added to the building shown in the illus- 
tration in 1856. The growth of the city impelled 
thoughts of removal and in 1870, land was purchased 
near Yonkers for a new site. It was not, however, 
until 1902 that work was undertaken, and in July the 
institution removed from the site it filled for fifty- 
two years. It is interesting to recall that on its prop- 
erty are now located the Ansonia Apartments and the 
residence of Charles M. Schwab — two of the largest 
and finest improvements in the upper city. 

Richard R. Lawrence, a Quaker merchant at 246 
Pearl Street, bought the property adjoining the Asylum 
on the north, in 1799, and lived in the residence he 
constructed thereon in the bed of present 75th Street, 



92 Zbc IRevp l?orft of lPe0ter^a^ 

west of West End Avenue, until his death there in 
1822. Fourteen years later, Pelatiah Perit, one of the 
pillars of the Church, acquired it and, during his 
occupation of the house, granted the Asylum children 
the privilege of his grounds for picnics. The Fourth 
of July was yearly made memorable for their enjoy- 
ment. He was a member of the advisory board of the 
institution and had the Sunday-school in his charge 
for years. 

Samuel Adams Lawrence, quondam deacon of the 
Church, owned, in 1805, a tract just north of the above, 
also a portion of the Somerindyck farm. The repre- 
sentation of his mansion depicts its idyllic situation 
and sylvan surroundings long prior to the alteration 
of the river's front made necessary by the coming of 
the railroad. Some of us recall those days, and cherish 
the memory with the wish that the so-called improve- 
ments might have been relegated to a later date. 

The other Somerindyck house stood just north of 
77th Street, also on the west side of the Road. Fer- 
nando Wood having bought it with adjoining land, 
added a structure on its south end and here he lived 
while Mayor. One of the noted events of Blooming- 
dale history occurred there in i860. On Friday, 
October 12th, Baron Renfrew (at present King Edward 
VII.), as the then Prince of Wales preferred to be 
known on his American tour, accompanied by Lord 
Lyon, the Duke of Newcastle, Earl St. German, Gen- 
eral Bruce, and other members of the royal suite, 
reached the house, after visits to the New York Uni- 
versity, the Astor Library, and the Central Park where 
he planted an American elm and a British oak. A 
large company of notables had assembled at the Wood 
residence and a bountiful and unexceptionable colla- 



IbarscnvlUe 93 

tion prepared. On the lawn at the rear of the dining- 
room had been stationed Dodworth's famous band of 
25 pieces. The Baron was received at the main en- 
trance of the edifice by the Mayor and conducted 
within. Miss Wood, then a young lady of sixteen 
summers, followed on the arm of the Duke, after whom 
the suite joined the procession. The Baron was 
formally presented to the guests in the front parlor, 
while the rest of the royal party, numbering some 
hundred individuals, were partaking of the repast on 
the lawn. During the return trip to the Baron's 
hotel — the Fifth Avenue — a visit was made to the 
Deaf and Dumb Asylum. A grand ball at the Academy 
of Music ended the day's excursion. 

The earliest school in the district that has come to 
our attention was the Bloomingdale Academy, which 
became celebrated under the care of the Rev. Hezekiah 
G. Ufford, who was succeeded in March, 1815, by John 
Moir of Edinburgh, distinguished as a classical teacher, 
when the name became the Bloomingdale Union 
Academy. This was in its heyday in 1820, but was 
soon thereafter discontinued. It is not known where 
it was located. Bansel's Military Academy stood 
opposite the Somerindyck house at 75th Street and 
Bloomingdale Road and was burned down circa 1829. 
At a later date the Rev. R. Townsend Huddart, a 
graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, a man of liberal 
attainments and great ambition, removed his school 
(1836) from 7 Beaver Street to a building at 77th Street 
and the Road. 

During its life in Bloomingdale, this school added 
considerably to its reputation. Huddart aimed first 
at turning out young gentlemen in tne strictest sense 
of the word, and personal inspection was as severe and 



94 ^be IRew york of ^eetevbn^ 

critical as at West Point. At the same time a thor- 
oughly liberal training was given, for, although most 
exacting as to a proficiency in the classics, the ac- 
quisition of modem languages was insisted upon, 
French being the language of the school, an unusual 
essential in those days. Situated quite three miles 
from any paved street, it was surrounded by the coun- 
try-seats of the wealthiest citizens, and the sons of the 
old Knickerbocker families received their education 
there. Those scholars who lived downtown used to 
assemble at Broadway and Bond Street, mornings, 
to meet the school "carryall." Among them were 
many of the teachers, for Huddart's greatest ex- 
travagance consisted in his large staff of assistants 
and the enormous salaries he paid some of the more 
celebrated. In 1841, the institution was moved to 
Bleecker Street, corner of Sullivan, and in 1844 to 
14th Street, between University Place and Fifth 
Avenue, in both of which locations it added to its 
fame. In 1849, it was in 23d Street between Fifth 
and Sixth Avenues and here we must bid it farewell- 
The best known seminary for young ladies, of still a 
later period, was that carried on by Mme. Petit in a 
house belonging to the Clarkson estate, and then in 
one of the houses on the Valentine Mott property. 
Many of the noted grand dames of the last generation 
attended this school. 

The village tavern, to which entrance was gained 
by way of an ellipse, fronted on the Road near 70th 
Street. The date of its opening has been lost in 
obscurity. About 1808 its landlord bore the name of 
Oakley and is said to have been its builder and first 
boniface. His successor was a big burly Englishman 
— ^Tom Rodgers — and he knew well how to make his 



Ibar^envllle 95 

inn a place of ease and comfort. The great sleighs, 
with their four horses and many toned bells, whose 
gay occupants generally had a pleasant greeting for 
Landlord Tom, made this their rendezvous. Mine 
host Rodgers spent many years here and was buried 
in the lane — the Harsenville Road — ^which bounded 
the tavern on the north. The next master was William 
Burnham, who about 1839 removed, at a rental of $600 
per annum, to the home of the van den Heuvels, which 
he called the Mansion House. His sons George, James 
C, and WiUiam were three as delightful hosts as ever 
were met. The old tavern was then taken by an- 
other under the name of the Pelican Inn and later 
"Pop" Griff en, another Englishman who kept a 
tavern on Hudson Street, opened this place in Bloom- 
ingdale. In 1840 the elections were held there and 
excitement in the village was at fever heat. The 
stages which made this a stopping place largely found 
their occupation gone when the cars were started 
on Eighth Avenue, and gradually the business of the 
tavern died away. It was still standing in 1868, but 
in how forlorn and neglected a condition! The fences 
were down, the path hidden by weeds, the windows 
broken, and the doors hanging locMess. No trace of 
the gay times of old was to be noticed, and desertion, 
silence, and decay reigned instead of the ringing laugh- 
ter, the cheery good fellowship, and the hearty en- 
joyment of former days in the old Bloomingdale 
Tavern. 

Baron John Cornelius van den Heuvel, Governor 
of Demerara, came to New York about 1792, a refugee 
from the ravages of yellow fever in that island. His 
intention was to remain here but a brief spell, but 
being charmed with the location, he built his seat, 



96 Zl)c flew l?orft of ©eater^ai? 

which stood on the present block between 78th and 
79th Streets, Broadway and West End Avenue, until 
the summer of 1905. Later, he married a daughter 
of Apthorp, his near neighbor, and remained in the 
city. The land on which this mansion was constructed 
was a part of the great farm, stretching from 77 th to 
90th Streets, which belonged at an early date to Etienne 
de Lancey, one of his Majesty's Council. It was 
purchased by Brigadier-General Oliver de Lancey^ 
his son, from the heirs, executors, and devisees of the 
emigrant. The General commanded the New York 
Provincials upon the expedition against Canada in 
1758 and was at the attempt made to storm Fort 
Ticonderoga. Thereafter, and at the commencement 
of the Revolutionary War, he was a member of the 
Council and on raising a brigade to join General Howe 
in 1776 was commissioned Brigadier. Just prior 
to the evacuation of the city he left for England and 
died at Beverly in Yorkshire, Oct. 27, 1785. The 
General's wife was Phila Franks, daughter of an opu- 
lent merchant of Philadelphia, and she joined in the 
convej'-ance of part of their Bloomingdale property to 
Charles Ward Apthorp in 1 763. This land was bounded 
on the south by the farm of Teunis Somerindyck and 
was the portion which became the country seat of 
the van den Heuvels. The site of the mansion was 
bought by the Astors in 1879 ^^^ ^^ i^ is now being 
constructed one of the largest apartment houses in the 
city. 

During the Bumham regime, the Mansion House 
became one of the noted resorts of the Bloomingdale 
drive. From the rear piazza there was a beautiful 
view of the Hudson and a pathway through a garden 
conducted to a charming little summer house perched 



Ibarsenvlllc 97 

on the bank just overhanging the stream. As the 
headquarters of the admirers of the trotting horse, 
Bumham's was the successor of Cato's place on the 
Old Post Road. Many a stepper of national reputa- 
tion in his day has dashed into the semi-circle by 
which the hotel was approached from the Road. 
But it had little in common with the roadside suburban 
tavern of the present time. There was nothing of 
the rowdy element visible there. Quiet and re- 
spectable citizens were accustomed to drive their 
families out to Bumham's in the afternoon for a scent 
of country air and a view of the river, and there was 
no reason why they should not. There was not such 
a long stretch of outlying municipal undigested terri- 
tory as there is even now in spots, and the country 
extended its arms in welcome almost as soon as you 
were off of the cobblestones. 

Before the smooth roads of Central Park were laid out, 
or even the Park itself was thought of, [says Mrs. Despard 
in the text which accompanies her sister Mrs. Greatorex's 
drawings], this Bloomingdale Road afforded an ever fresh 
pleasure to all who owned horses and carriages. The 
country on either side of it was so fresh and rural, the 
houses so charming, whether they were the villas of mil- 
lionaires or quiet two story cottages of dwellers with small 
revenues, and the glimpses of the Hudson! — sometimes 
at the foot of a narrow lane, where the water was but a 
point of lightness closing the vista, sometimes a broad 
expanse showing a large and noble view of the grand river. 
There were hills and valleys on that road ; heights whence 
one could look back to the city and forward to Manhattan- 
ville ; and after going as far out as to Washington Heights 
or even to Spuyten Duyvel or Kingsbridge, returning in 
the soft dusk of evening, past Trinity Cemetery and 
Carmansville, one felt that with the great change from 



98 Zbc 1Flew l^ork of ipe0tert)a^ 

the city to such entirely country scenes and the great 
variety of the drive, the two or three hours' ride had been 
a journey in itself; and when one saw at the Hopper house 
on 50th Street the old poplar trees and the glimmering 
lights of the city, it was like the return from a long absence. 
As beautiful as the Central Park is, it cannot compensate 
for the charms of the Bloomingdale Road — now forever 
lost. 

And when snow covered the landscape — these were 
the days when all the world was on runners — ^high 
carnival reigned on the Road, and Burnham's, Striker's 
Bay, and the Abbey were thronged with gay crowds. 
An old resident informs us that during the winter of 
1847, his family, while sitting on their piazza, had 
counted eleven hundred and sixty sleighs which passed 
along the Road in one hour. 

Adam van den Bergh started the first stage-route to 
Albany. Just when the local stages began to run on 
the Road is indefinite. Haswell's Reminiscences of an 
Octogenarian states that on May 25, 18 19, a Hne from 
the lower part of the city was established. In 1845 
Benjamin Moore ran five two-horse 'buses from Tryon 
Row to Manhattanville, and in 1849 John O'Keefe began 
a line which started at Chambers Street and Broadway, 
went up to Canal Street, through to Hudson, and con- 
tinued up Eighth Avenue and the Road to Burnham's. 
This also consisted of five two-horse vehicles. 

We would like to tell of the village life at a later 
period; of the grocery on the east side of the Road 
between 75 th and 76th Streets which boasted itself 
by a wooden sign to be the " Harsenville Post Office," 
the first in the district; of the mild excitement in the 
settlement on the day (Oct. 19, 1847) of the laying 
of the corner-stone of the Washington Monument in 



IbarsenvlUe 99 

Hamilton Square, largely caused by the emulation 
engendered among the participants in the contem- 
plated games ; how the boys of the local fire company — 
No. 50 — turned out and reached the site, via the ham- 
let's only cross road, which led nearly to it; and of the 
enlistment of the young fellows of the neighborhood 
for the war with Mexico. How much more of interest 
could be added — but we forbear and close this mar- 
shalling of the days of yore with the refrain : — ^Farewell, 
a long farewell to Harsenville. 



IV 
Ubc 3f trst Consistory 

UbC Synod to which the Church at Harsenville owes 
fealty represents the oldest Protestant ecclesiastical 
organization in America. Its succession of ministers 
has been unbroken since 1628, when Domine Jonas 
Michaelius arrived and in the summer formally organ- 
ized a church which has had continuous existence to 
this day. When the colony surrendered to the British 
in 1664, and New Amsterdam became New York, the 
rights of the church were not affected, all its former 
privileges being retained under the new government. 
It was chartered under the seal of William and Mary, 
King and Queen of England, in 1696. The portraits in 
oil of its ministers since 1699 are hanging in the Lecture 
Room of the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas (this 
Saint's name having been that of the "Church in the 
Fort"), Fifth Avenue, at 48th Street. The bell which 
hangs in the steeple of this church was cast in Amster- 
dam in 1728. It was bequeathed by Abraham de Peys- 
ter, a son of Johannes the founder of the American 
family, to the Middle Dutch Church, which then stood 
on Nassau Street, between Cedar and Liberty. When 
this church building was occupied as the City Post- 
office, the bell was removed to the church on 9th 



Zbc jprst Consistory loi 

Street near Broadway, thence to the church on Lafay- 
ette Place, and last of all to its present location, where 
its voice is still regularly heard. De Peyster's life was 
marked by many honors, he having held successively 
the offices of Alderman, Mayor, Judge of the Supreme 
Court, Chief Justice of the province, member and chair- 
man of the King's Council, acting Governor and Colonel- 
Commander of the Militia of New York, President of 
the Council, Treasurer of the provinces of New York 
and New Jersey, and Deputy Auditor-General. 

A vivid pen-picture of the early days is presented in 
an article which was published in The Christian Intelli- 
gencer of Aug. 22, 1906. Besides its historic value, it 
mentions the names of families which later became 
prominent in Bloomingdale. The editor prefaces the 
narrative with the statement that it appeared recently 
in De Kerkboden {The Church Messenger), one of the 
oldest religious periodicals in the Netherlands. The 
facts were taken from some old papers in the form of 
letters written by Domine Joannes Megapolensis to a 
Wilhelmus van Mierop in Amsterdam, who married 
Jacobina Bogardus, a sister of the Domine's prede- 
cessor. Recently there died in Alkmaar (Holland), 
Doctor Franz van Mierop and in an old Bible of his 
these letters were found. It is truly said in the above 
preface that the compiler is in error as to the date (1647) 
at which he places the event described. Domine Meg- 
apolensis did not become pastor of the church until 
1649, and Domine Samuel Drisius, whose presence is 
noted in the text, did not reach New Amsterdam before 
1652. The article is evidently based on a paper read 
by the late James W. Gerard before the New York His- 
torical Society, in June, 1874, which was an imagina- 
tive portraiture of the times, and not an accurate 



I02 z\)c IRevo ^ov}\ of IJesterba^ 

historical sketch. The term "Consistory" designates 
those individuals who, with the minister, compose the 
governing body of the church. 

HnDrew Ibopper, 

an original Elder of the Church at Harsenville, was the 
grandson of Andries Hoppe, mentioned heretofore in 
the first chapter as having arrived in New Amsterdam 
in 1652. He came from a rich, prominent, powerful, 
and much respected family of Old Amsterdam, whose 
history harks back to ancient times in Holland where 
the name was spelled both Hoppe and Hoppen, a cus- 
tom the pioneer in this country continued. Away back 
in the 1 5th century members of the tribe had served 
the city as Schepens, Burgomasters, Councillors, and 
Orphan Masters. A few instances will suffice. One 
of the windows of the Old Church in that metropolis 
was placed therein by a member of the family as a pen- 
ance for having been baptized a Protestant. This pane 
represents the Salutation of Maria and contains the 
Hoppe coat of arms. The recanter himself lies buried 
in front thereof, in the Chancel of the Holy Virgin, as 
evidenced by the tombstone on which the same coat 
can be deciphered. This individual, as a part of his 
infliction, donated a fund to be used in distributing 
" a clear white leaf of bread and a pint of wine" to each 
patient in the Hospital on the Day of the Visitation of 
Our Lady, and on the 13 th of each September, a meal 
consisting of boiled meat and wine, or fish " on fish day, 
served as is proper." He became Regent of the insti- 
tution in 15 1 1. His grandson was Burgomaster and 
Councillor of the city in 1549, continuing in office for 
years and remained Orphan Master as late as 1573. 
Joachem Hopper, a noted Doctor of Laws, with which 



Zhc jflrst Con9i9tori? 103 

degree he was invested in 1553, forsook the profession 
of teaching the following year on his appointment as 
a member of the Grand Conseil de Malines. When the 
Spanish government undertook the creation of a uni- 
versity at Douay, he was charged with its formation. 
Called to Madrid in 1566, he became Privy Councillor 
to Philip II. and Chancellor of Affairs of the Low Coun- 
tries. He was more moderate than the other ministers 
of that monarch and was the author of numerous fa- 
mous books and MSS. Christiaan Hoppe, b. 1621 at 
Amsterdam, studied at Helmstadt and in 1647 became 
Lutheran preacher at Enkhuizen. In 1656 he removed 
to Haarlem and four years later was called to his 
native city where he died 1670. After 1652 he devoted 
himself to educating young men for the ministry. A 
sermon written by him, though only of six pages, 4to, 
was published for the fourth time in the year 17 10, 
forty years after his death. 

In this country several distinct lines of Hoppers ap- 
pear in numerous localities among the records and 
families of Colonial times. These were of English or 
Irish descent. The New York and New Jersey family 
originated in Holland and it is with this line we have to 
deal. The pioneer settled in New Amsterdam, where he 
was enrolled in 1653 in the burgher corps, and during 
the six years he lived in the colony he was a typical mer- 
chant of the period and, though not nearly so wealthy 
as many of his cotemporaries, was the peer of any in 
enterprise, probity, and business sagacity. Dying in 
1658 he left him surviving his widow, whom he married 
in the old country, and one daughter who was bom 
there, and three sons. All four of the children removed 
to Hackensack, New Jersey, and this accounts for the 
large number of the name yet residing in that State. 



104 ^be IRew IPotft of IPeaterbap 

The youngest son, Matthys Adolphus, was baptized 
at New Amsterdam, March 3, 1658, and married there, 
May 2, 1683, Anna, daughter of Jurck Paulus, of New 
Albany. He is designated in the records as being yet 
of New York, and on removal to New Jersey, they both 
joined the church there in 1687, He bought a farm 
adjoining his brother Hendrick's at Saddle River, and 
the eight children of the marriage were bom there. 
Returning to New York City he acquired the farm at 
Bloomingdale with which his name is identified, Aug. 
13, 1 7 14, and built his homestead on the west side of 
the Road, but fronting on the farm lane which led to the 
burial-ground and the river. His son Johannes, known 
as John Hopper the Elder, married Maria van Orden 
of the well-known van Orden family, and their seven 
children were born in the homestead. Under the terms 
of the will, dated Oct. 12, 1779, the farm was to be 
divided into six equal parts among the survivors, viz., 
Matthew, John, Andrew, Yallis, and Jemima, the wife 
of John Horn, "of the Bloomingdale Road," as Riker's 
Harlem has it. The remaining portion went to his 
grandchildren, the issue of his deceased son Wessell. 
A map was to be drawn showing such division and six 
tickets prepared and numbered with the numbers of 
said six lots, whereupon the said six devisees, their 
heirs and assigns or guardians for them, were each to 
draw one ticket and the number thereon designated 
the number of the lot he or she should inherit by the 
devise. The farm road above mentioned from the Com- 
mons to the river was to inin through each one of said 
lots, " to always be and remain free to any or either of 
said devisees to pass and repass without any hindrance " 
to and from his or her portion of the farm. Articles 
of agreement were entered into by the heirs carrying 



Zhc Jfirst Con9l6tori? 105 

out the above directions on Feb. 4, 1782. On lot No. 
2 on said map was the family burial-ground and this 
was exempted from sale, to be reserved forever for that 
purpose. The courts some fifteen years ago decided 
that the terms of this agreement were not explicit 
enough to exempt this ground from other uses and the 
site is now covered by an apartment house. Hopper's 
Lane was widened to the uniform breadth of twenty- 
eight feet throughout its length. 

Andrew Hopper was baptized in the Dutch Church 
at New Amsterdam — ^the State or Established church 
of the colony — on Feb. 27, 1736, and married (i) Cath- 
arina Stijmets Jan. 28, 1758. On the property he in- 
herited under the above arrangement his father had put 
up for him the residence which became such a conspic- 
uous object on the Road, at later 50th Street, on the 
site of the present American Horse Exchange. This 
was completed at the date of the marriage and became 
the home of the couple where three of their four child- 
ren first saw the light. Issue: 

Johannes, bap. Mch. 12, 1760; died young. 

Jasper, b. June 10, 1770, in the city residence. 

Mary, b. ; married Barzillai Dusenbury, 

and died in July, 1846, a widow. 

Rachel, b. Sept. 15, 1766, ;m. Thomas Newcomb, the 
brother of Charlotte, May 15, 1794. She d. April 27, 181 2. 

At the age of eighteen he left home and entered the 
office of the Secretary of State at Albany as a clerk, 
serving for two sessions as Clerk of the Assembly. On 
Nov. 3, 1 791, when twenty-one years old, he was ap- 
pointed Deputy Secretary of State under Governor Jay, 
and continued to hold that office until 1802, when he 
removed to Onondaga County, where he became 
County Clerk, which office he filled to 18 18. Having 



io6 ^be IRew IDorFi of ^cetcvt>n^ 

in 1799 been admitted an honorary member of the Al- 
bany Law Society, he was made Supreme Court Com- 
missioner in 1803. In 1810 he was U. S. Marshal 
during the taking of the census and in the War of 181 2 
was Quartermaster in charge of military stores at the 
Arsenal in his home county and U. S. Commissary. 
He was besides postmaster of Onondaga Hollow for 
nineteen years, and died there July 29, 1848. Among 
his other activities was the establishment in 181 1 of 
The Lynx, the first newspaper of the county, and the 
founding of the Onondaga Academy in 18 13, one of the 
famous institutions of learning in the early history of the 
State, of which he was a trustee from its estabhshment 
to his decease. A member of the Democratic-Re- 
publican party he was a leader in the county organ- 
ization. Clark's Onondaga says he was "a man of 
remarkable kindness and docility of disposition, very 
amiable, courteous, social, and obliging. Few men who 
have been so much in public life escape with so little 
censure or expose themselves to fewer assaults from 
political opponents." He married, Oct. 14, 1800, Char- 
lotte, daughter of Zaccheus Newcomb of Pleasant Val- 
ley, Dutchess County, and had six children. 

So much has been written about this country seat and 
the land where Andrew Hopper carried on farming that 
we forbear to enter much into detail. The house was of 
stone with a brick and wooden annex added at the 
time of his second marriage. The steep sloping roof 
and rounded gables, wide stoep, fan lights, and dormer 
windows were essentially Dutch. Even in its latter 
days the dignity of age became it well. The quaint 
carved mantles, the great yawning fire-places, and wide- 
arched hall retained the traditions of its better days. 
One can well understand how cozy the winter meetings 



XLbc jflret Constston? 107 

of the Consistory could be made as the members circled 
around the fire. No doubt the well-known hospitality, 
which distinguished the Dutch, — a famed character- 
istic of the strain, — ^was exemplified in bumpers of "hot 
toddy," after the evening's business was finished and 
the pipes lighted. Great melancholy willows almost 
hid the house from view and the row of Lombardy pop- 
lars Andrew's father planted became pitiful skeletons 
under the burden of their years. The farmer's house, 
whose broad eaves stretched over a pathway floored 
with brick and shaded the wooden bench ensconced 
along the wall, stood behind these trees. The ground 
between them was almost a continuous piece of rock; 
grass and weeds covered it and rows of tall lilacs fenced 
it from the street. 

Andrew Hopper's city residence was on the corner 
of Broadway and Ann Street, a noted spot, where Bar- 
num's Museum — that large gloomy structure made 
bizarre by the numerous colored banners and oval 
signs arrayed across its front — was afterwards located 
and which became on its destruction by fire in 1865 
the site of the Herald Building. He had lived here 
prior to 1770 for there his son was born. The corner 
of this plot was purchased in 1762 by Capt. Thomas 
White, "a wealthy Englishman," says Valentine's 
Manual, " lately become a resident of this city." With 
his second wife, Ann, he joined in selling it to Hopper, 
April 20, 1773 (L. 40, 359), and on August 10, 1784, Ann, 
the widow, conveyed to the same grantee (L. 42, 167) 
land adjoining "on the southerly side of a certain 
street lately laid out and intended to be opened by the 
said Ann White leading from the Commons to Nassau 
Street, and intended to be called and known by the 
name of White Street. Various have been the sur- 



io8 Zhc IRew ^otU of !3e0tert)a^ 

mises made to account for the origin of the name of 
Ann Street. Let us hazard the assertion that as Ann 
opened it, very naturally it assumed her name after 
her husband's death. As early as 1761 a public house 
stood on this corner. John Elldn, the proprietor, ad- 
vertised at that date that he served "breakfast from 
7 to 9 ; tea in the afternoon from 3 to 6 ; the best of green 
tea and hot French rolls, pies and tarts drawn, from 
7 to 9 ; mead and cakes." Just prior to the Revolution 
the "Sons of Liberty" acquired the property for their 
headquarters and changed its name to Hampden Hall. 
Many of the riots and public disputes of the war period 
occurred within its walls. After the peace it was occu- 
pied as a private house until its conversion in 1830 into 
Scudder's Museum. 

Prior to 1686, when Governor Dongan granted his 
charter to the city by which all the "waste, vacant, 
and unpatented lands ' ' on the island were vested in the 
Corporation, he appropriated this piece to himself, 
built a cottage upon it, and laid out the ground in a 
handsome manner as a garden, which was subsequently 
for many years called the "Governor's Garden." It 
embraced about two acres of land. After Dongan's 
departure to his native Ireland (where he afterwards 
became the Earl of Limerick) his garden was a pleasure 
resort commonly called the Vineyard. His kinsman, 
Thomas Dongan of London, later exercised control 
over this property and it was from this source that 
White acquired it. 

The directory of 1786 makes Hopper a merchant at 
71 Chatham Row. In 1789, says The History of the 
School of the Collegiate Dutch Church, p. 100, he was 
one of the officers by whom the school was supervised. 
This institution had its origin in the appointment of the 



Zbc jTlret Consistori? 



109 



first schoolmaster in 1633 sent out by the West India 
Company and is the oldest seat of learning in the coun- 
try of which there is any record. The names of its offi- 
cers from that date are extant and those of its pupils 
from 1 791. Its home is now at 76th Street and West 
End Avenue.^ 

» In a cursory examination of The History of the School of the Col- 
legiate Dutch Church, 1883, some early Bloomingdale names are found 
which are scheduled here. Matthew Hopper joined the school in 
1 791, "having been delivered to Stanton Latham" with twenty- 
nine others on May 4th, says the entry made by Peter van Steen- 
burg. Latham had been clerk of the North Church and had 
superseded van Steenburg in charge by appointment of the Con- 
sistory of the Collegiate Church. 



Names 


Ages 


Admitted 


Parents 


Hardenbrook 
Low 


William 
Jane 








Hopper 


Martha 




Nov. 3, 1792 




Holloway 


Isabella 




Feb. 2, 179s 




Post 


Jacob 


7 


Apr. 2S, 1796; grad. May 








25, 1802 




Beekman 


Henry 


10 


June IS, 1796 


George 


" 


Catherine 


II 


Oct. 4, 


" 


Vandewater 


John 


9 


Jan. 22, 1800 


Mary 


Post 


Alexander 


8 


July II, " 


Benjamin 


" 


Henry 


II 


June II, 1802 


Abraham 


Whitlock 


James 


12 


Feb 8, 1803 


Samuel 


Quackenbush 


Lawrence 


10 


" " " 


John 


Kortright 


Nicholas 


9 


Dec. 9, 1803 


Daniel Warner 


Beekman 


Eliza 




Feb. 4, 1804 


George 


Bogert 


Peter 


10 


•' 


Albert 


Quackenbush 


Samuel 


12 


Apr. 26, 1804 


Abraham 


Beekman 


Ann 


II 


Jan. 31, 1 80s 


Richard 


Bogert 


Eliza 


10 


May 27, " 


Peter 


Quackenbush 


John 
James 


12 
9 


April 4, 1806 


Abraham 


Whitlock 


Samuel 


8 


Sept. 4, " 


Samuel 


Kortright 


Daniel 


7 


Oct. 30, " 


Abraham Bancker 


" 


Ellen 


10 


March 19, 1807 


Margaret Warner 


Jones 


Ann 


9 


" 


Mary 


Cozine 


Mary 
Garrit 


10 
10 


July 9, 1807 


Garrit 


Bogert 


Margaret 


8 


" " " 


Andrew 


Van Orden 


John 


10 


March 17, 1808 




Whitlock 


Daniel 


9 


" 


Thomas B. 


" 


James 


8 


May 12, " 


" 


Holloway 


John 


10 


June 9, " 


John 


Bogert 


Peter 


9 


Aug. 29, 


James 


Van Norden 


Alice 


8 


Dec. 27, " 




" 


John M. 


12 


Jan' 31, 1809 


Matthew 



no XTbe IWew IPork of l^eeterbai? 

In 1805 Hopper became one of the two elders of 
the Church at Harsenville and held that position until 
his death. He was moderator at the organization, 
was the first delegate to Classis, and the first treasurer. 
The Consistory met at his house for the first time 
October 3, 1808. On December 9, 18 13, he was mar- 
ried by Dr. Gunn to Elizabeth Guest, the widow of 
Peter Arell. The church records which make it Earl 
are in error. He died intestate April 4, 1824, and it 
is rather unusual that such scant notice in the pro- 
ceedings of the Consistory should have been taken of 
the event. At the succeeding meeting at Striker's Bay 
on August 2d, Ichabod Prall was elected an elder "in 
the place of Andrew Hopper deceased" — ^just this and 
nothing more — after a service of nineteen years. So 
state the minutes. The "Elder's book," in which 



Names 


Ages Admitted 


Parents 


Bogert 


Margaret 


10 


June 26, " 


Andrew 


Cozine 


George 


8 


July 29, " 


Garrit 


Van Orden 


Samuel 


13 


April 29, 181 1 


Matthew 


Hopper 


Andrew 


II 


Jime 24, " 


Garret"" 


Post 


Albert 


10 


Sept. 30, " 


Mary ■ 


Bogert 


Jane 


10 


Feb. 6, 1812 


Wert 


" 


Jacob 


9 


May 25, " 


John Betham 


Post 


John 


7 


June 22, " 


Rachel 


Bayard 


Ann 


9 


Jtme 29, " 


Elizabeth 


Bogert 


Sally 


8 


Oct. 5, " 


Andrew 


Bayard 


Peter 


13 


Sept. 28, 1813 


Elizabeth 


Van Derbeck 


Stephen 


II 


Feb. 28, 1814 


James 


Vanderbeck 


Mimyan 


II 


Mar. 31, 1817; grad. April 26, 1819 


Duryee 


Henry B. 


9 


March 31, 1817 


John L. 


Post 


Sarah Ann 


8 


March 26, 1832 


Margaret Lawrence 


" 


John 


II 


Oct. 29, 


Abraham 


Dyckman 


Peter B. 


9 


June 27, 1836 


John 


Byard 


Mary 


4 


Sept. 28, 1840 


David 


Post 


Ann B. 


12 


" 


David Byard 


" 


Elizabeth 


9 


Oct. 25, 1841 


John A. 


«' 


Adrian 


12 


Nov. 29, " 


" 


Clendenin 


William 


6 


Sept. 6, 1842 


George 


Somerindyke 


William 


13 


Sept. 25, 1843 


" 


Clendenin 


George 


7 


June 29, 1846 


Charlotte 


Hoagland 


William H. 


9 


Jan. 25, 1847 


Henry V. 


Talman 


Dowah D. 
John H. 


II 

7 


May 31, 


Peter 


Hoagland 


Catherine W. 


8 


July 24, 1848 


Henry V. 



^be 3fit0t Con0l0tori? m 

obituary notices were written, seems to have been lost. 
It was resolved on March 13, 1826, that the treasurer 
pay the estate the balance of the money due it for 
advances, after deducting the amount due the Church 
and the Female Cent Society. Mrs. Elizabeth Hop- 
per continued to live in the Broadway home and 
spared no expense to keep it in order and to cultivate 
the garden and grounds which surrounded it. In June 
1824 an action in partition had been begun, and the 
commissioners conveyed the house plot to the widow 
(L. 190, 330), for a consideration of $3050. On her 
death, on December 25, 1825, her heirs-at-law, two 
brothers and a sister, inherited it. The property was 
alienated by the family, by deed recorded in L. 1539, 
III, which conveyed it to William K. Vanderbilt. The 
same commissioners sold the Ann Street corner to 
the ^tna Fire Insurance Company (L. 193,103), for 
$21,700. There were two dwelling houses situated 
thereon known as Nos. 220 and 222 Broadway. 

Hopper was buried in the family plot which was at 
present Soth Street and Ninth Avenue until 1885, when 
the remains were removed to Woodlawn. "He never 
dreamed," says Felix Oldboy, "that the little city at 
the lower end of the island would ever come knocking 
at his doors, and bidding him move on, and had gone 
comfortably to sleep in the belief that his worn out 
body would rest undisturbed in the sight of the fields 
he had tilled and the river in which he had sported in 
his boyhood." Here also his wives were interred in 
the fond hope that there they might repose till time 
should be no more. Allowance was not made for the 
restless spirit of this iconoclastic age. In 1846, por- 
tions of the cemetery were cut off for the opening of 
the streets on the east and north side thereof, when 



112 



Z\)c IRew ^ovk of l^esterbai? 



many bodies had to be removed to another part of 
the ground. Then a stone retaining wall some six feet 
high was constructed around the open sides, frame 
houses hemming it in on the south and west. Hop- 
per's headstone was left nearest to the line of 50th 
Street, and this inscription was plainly legible from the 
sidewalk : 

In memory of 

ANDREW HOPPER 

who departed this life on the 

4th day of April, 1824 

aged 88 years. 

"The sweet remembrance of the just 

Shall flourish when they sleep in dust. " 

James Stttlser 

History in repeating itself presents curious vistas. 
Here is a descendant in the fifth generation walking in 
the footprints of a kinsman whose lot it was to plant 
the first church on Long Island. Jan Strijcker reached 
New Amsterdam in 1652, with a wife, two sons, and 
four daughters. Two years later he took the lead 
in founding a Dutch colony at Midwout (Flatbush), 
whither he went, with the appointment April 8th of 
that year of "Serjeant." The same year he was 
selected as Schout (Chief Magistrate) of the settlement, 
an office he held for almost the entire succeeding 
twenty years. He was one of the Embassy selected 
to be sent to the Lord Mayors in Holland to make 
complaint and crave assistance on account of the 
colonists' annoyance from the English and Indians. 
(Col. Hist., vol. ii., p. 374) . He represented his town at 
the great Landtdag called by the Burgomasters which 
met on April 10, 1664 at the Stadt Huys in the capital 



Zbc ifiret Consistory 113 

to take into consideration the precarious condition of 
the country. {Mrs. Lamb's History, vol. i., 205-7; 
New Netherland Register, 147). He was a representative 
in the Hempstead Convention the following year when 
the celebrated "Duke's Laws" were promulgated and 
appears as a patentee on the NicoU's grant October 11, 
1667 and again on the Dongan patent, November 12, 
1685. Prior to this period he had been elected Captain 
of the Midwout Militia Company, October 25, 1673 and 
on March 26, 1674 was named a deputy to confer with 
Governor Colve at New Orange when the Dutch came 
back to their own. To turn from the civil and military 
man, we find him in the first years of his residence at 
Midwout, one of the two commissioners appointed 
(December 17, 1654) by the Governor to build the Dutch 
Church and parsonage there. In a letter addressed 
to the "Noble Rigorous and Honourable Gentlemen 
and Honourable Director-General of the Council in 
Nieuw Nederlandt," December 20, 1659, he wrote 
that the church, "now, with God's help, nearly com- 
pleted, requires a coat of colour and oil, being covered 
on the outside mostly with boards. These materials 
must necessarily be brought from the Fatherland and 
we request it to be done upon your Honour's order to 
the Honourable Company." The edifice cost Fl. 4057.9 
(Docs. Relating to Hist. Early Col. Settlements, Femow, 
vol. xiv. 482). Jan Strijcker's remains yet lie in the 
graveyard of this church, wherewith his descendants in 
the eighth generation are still connected, the present 
site of which is at Flatbush Avenue and Church Lane. 
He was an active supporter for many years of Domine 
Johannes Theodorus Polhemus, the pastor, and lived to 
see his family of eight children married and settled on 
valuable bouweries and occupying positions of influence 



114 ITbe 1Rew ©orFi of l^eeterbai? 

in the community. He died circa 1697 at the ripe age 
of over eighty years, full of the honors which such a 
new settlement could bestow and with his duties as a 
civil officer and a free citizen of his adopted country 
well performed. 

Not many families in Holland, outside the ranks 
of royalty, were more highly positioned than the 
Strijckers, who are of remote antiquity. Certain mem- 
bers thereof have been seated near The Hague for 
over eight centuries and another line near Rotterdam. 
Those of the name bearing titles are numerous. De- 
scendants here will be interested in searching for the 
tomb in the High Choir, No. 37, in the great Kirk at 
Haarlem, St. Bavon's, in which the remains of Dirck 
Strijcker, Knight, were interred in 1677. Motley's 
History of the Dutch Republic tells of Herman Strijcker, 
a monk who had abjured Romanism, who created in 
1 562 a widespread revival of religion among the 
masses. Mrs. Charles, in her Deliverers of Holland, 
gives considerable account of his labors. His eloquence 
drew thousands to listen to him and he is said to have 
preached to fifteen thousand men in arms during the 
Regency of Alva. 

To return to this country. In the middle of the 
seventeenth century, Jan and Jacobus Strijcker re- 
ceived from the States-General of the Netherlands a 
grant of land in the colony of New Amsterdam upon 
condition that they took out with them to America 
twelve other families at their own expense. Their 
grant was dated in January, 1643. It does not appear 
that the offer was finally acted upon until eight years 
thereafter and then the younger brother Jacobus 
emigrated from the village of Ruinen, in the province 
of Drenthe, one year before Jan and founded the old 



^be Jfltst (Tonslston? 115 

Knickerbocker family of this name in and near New 
Amsterdam. He was the ancestor of the Manhattan 
family. Usually signing his name Jacob, he on occa- 
sions added Gerritsen before his surname, indicating 
that he was the son of Gerrit Strijcker. With him 
came his wife, Ytie (Ida) Huybrechts, and two children 
Gerrit and Altje. A man of ability and education he 
soon rose to the magistracy at New Amsterdam (Feb- 
ruary 2, 1 65 5) and served in that capacity during i656, 
1 6 58, and 1660. He was early singled out as a person 
worthy of trust, and confidence in his integrity was 
shown in many instances by his selection by the Court 
as referee and guardian. He was the owner of a num- 
ber of pieces of realty in the city and lived in i656 on 
Pearl Street south of Fort Amsterdam, says the Year 
Book, 1900, Holland Society. On his complaint that 
the chimney of Jacob Stevensen's house had been 
neither repaired nor pulled down, although he had 
frequently notified the Fire Inspectors, the latter were 
ordered by the Worshipful Court of Burgomasters and 
Schepens to forbid within twenty-four hours the said 
Stevensen and his wife from "making any more fire 
there; or to pull down the chimney if they deemed 
it necessary." Strijcker stated he was the next neighbor 
and "nothing else is to be expected, not only by him 
but by the whole street, but a sudden destruction by 
fire" (Court Minutes, New Amsterdam, vol. ii., p. 230). 
The Burgher right was introduced into the city in 
1657, one that had been established in old Amsterdam 
five years previously. The position of Great Burgher 
was conferred on Strijcker, who took "the proper 
oath" on April 13th, whereby he became eligible to 
the holding of high municipal office. "The twenty 
names on this list," says Stone's Hist, of N. Y., 33, 



ii6 zi)c flew l?orft of ^cetcvba,^ 

"composed the aristocracy of the period." The small 
Burghers had only the privilege of trade. 

About the close of 1660, Strijcker removed to New 
Amersfort (Flatlands) , as we ascertain from the church 
records of the capital where after the names of himself 
and wife as members of the church it is indited that 
they had removed to the former place. They became 
members of the church there in 1667. It is to be 
noted that, although not living there till now, he early 
became associated with Long Island where he owned 
land, some of which he sold in 1653. He must have 
returned for a time to New Amsterdam, for in 1662 
he again became a Schepen there and the following 
year acted as President of the Court. He was a mem- 
ber of the Convention, representing the Capitol, which 
met July 6th of that year, to engage the several Dutch 
towns to keep up an armed force for public protection. 
Having failed of election to the Burgomastership 
(nominated February 1664, Court Minutes, etc., vol. v., 
p. 16) he was appointed Orphan Master (Judge of the 
Orphan's Court) March i8th (New Netherland Regis- 
ter, -p. 6 j). In the patent for Midwout issued in 1667 
his name appears as a patentee, and when three years 
later the Sachem of Rockaway and his two brothers 
laid claim to this land so granted by Governor NicoUs, 
he joined the inhabitants in deciding to purchase the 
Indian rights. In consideration of ten fathoms of 
black seawant, ten fathoms of white seawant, five 
match coats, four blankets, two guns, two pistols, five 
double handfulls of powder, five bars of lead, ten 
knives, two aprons of Duffels, one half fat of strong 
beer, two cans of brandy and six shirts, a deed 
was executed which ran to Adrian Hegeman, Jacob 
Strijcker, Hendrick Jorise and Jan Hanson for and 



Z\)c jfirst Con0l9tor)? n? 

on behalf of themselves and the rest of the inhabitants 
and which bore date April 20,1670. Business having re- 
quired Strijcker's attention up the river he lived for a 
time at Wildwyck (Kingston) where he rented ' ' the vil- 
lage house" in 167 1 {Year Book, 1896, Holland Society). 

No sooner had the Dutch Commanders Evertse and 
Benckes established themselves in New Amsterdam, 
August 12, 1673, superseding the English control, than 
the nearest six towns, Midwout, Amersfoort, Breucke- 
lin, New Utrecht, Bushwick and Gravesend, together 
with Staten Island, submitted to their authority. 
These towns were chiefly settled by rejoicing Hol- 
landers and upon their nomination, August i8th, 
Strijcker was appointed Schout. On December 5th he, 
with his friend Secretary van Ruyven, was commis- 
sioned to examine and settle the boundary between the 
town of New Utrecht and Veryn's land and in 1674 
was, with his brother Jan, a delegate to confer with 
Governor Colve on the state of the colony. 

He was somewhat of an artist, probably an amateur 
portrait painter. He is called a "limner" in the 
records, and one of his productions, a portrait of him- 
self on a wooden panel, has descended in direct line to 
the present generation as has likewise a chair brought 
by him from Holland. (For reproductions of the 
portrait and chair Vide the N. Y. Gen. and Biog. 
Record for January, 1907.) This portrait was painted 
in 1655 ^^^ represents Strijcker in a velvet suit with 
the magisterial collar. The profession of art he did 
not follow, but devoted the time not occupied by his 
judicial and public duties to farming and trading with 
the Indians, a highly lucrative business in those days. 
He seems to have been a gentleman of considerable 
means, of much official influence, and of decided culture 



ii8 Zhe IRevo IDorft of IJeeter^a^ 

We find from the records kept by Domine Casparus 
van Zuuren, that he died in October, 1687. His eldest 
child, Gerret, married Wyntje Comelise Boomgaert 
(Bogert) in December, 1673, and died in 1694. She 
died in 1700. They lived in Flatlands and were both 
members of the Church there in 1677. Governor 
Dongan appointed him Sheriff of King's Coimty in 
1688. In 1692, he bought a house and farm of one 
hundred eight and three quarters acres in Gravesend 
for ;^ 297.10. Of his nine children, we are concerned 
with the third, Jacobus, who was baptized in Flatbush 
August 27, 1682. He lived at Gravesend with his wife 
Martha until 1722, when he removed to Oyster Bay. 
His will dated September 27, 1748, when he was "very 
sick, and weak in body," is recorded at Jamaica in 
L. G. 256. Therein testator bequeaths to his daughter 
Mercy "a full Sorting out of Hou? Hold Goods and 
other Mouvables Equal to what my Daughter Woanche 
[Wyntje] Lane Has Already Had" and to each ;^ 25. 
paid from the movable estate. To daughter Mercy 
"my young black mair." All the remaining part of 
the estate was devised to his sons Garret and John, 
who were named executors, in equal shares, subject to 
the payment by them of ;^ 150. to each of their sisters. 
Garret, or as he spelled his name Gerrit Striker, the 
great grandson of the old magistrate, was bom May 
20, 1726 when his father was fifty- three years of age. 
He lived at Oyster Bay and was in business at Glen 
Cove in 1756 with Obadiah Lawrence. In 1764, he 
removed to New York and purchased (August 8th) for 
;^55o. from Charles Ward Ap thorp, a farm of fifty 
acres "beginning at the head of a certain cove on the 
easterly side of the North River" and bounded north- 
erly by the land of Humphrey Jones, with the lane 




o •- 

CO tn 



tTbe first Consistory 119 

leading to the Bloomingdale Road subject to right of 
way in the grantor. Here he built his home and named 
it "Striker's Bay." An indentation from the river 
formed the cove which recessed the shore to a con- 
siderable distance to the east, into which emptied a 
marshy stream which rose at 104th Street, near Tenth 
Avenue. A smaller branch of this brook from the 
neighborhood of the Avenue and 59th Street joined it 
at Eleventh Avenue. By his wife Ann, bom July 30, 
1734, daughter of Derick II. and Rebecca (de Grove, 
bom 1720) Albertson, he had an only child James, 
bom September 18,1755. James's father died September 
17, 1775, and his mother's death occurred October 10, 
1 78 5. The son inherited the property as heir-at-law. 
On the capture of the city, he became an ensign in the 
Second Regiment of "De Lancey's Loyalists," under 
commission dated October 23, 1776, but at the first 
opportunity went to New Jersey where he enlisted in 
the Light Horse Troop at Somerset as heretofore re- 
lated {Vide page 50). This troop made quite a 
record in the war. The Story of an Old Farm, gives 
this tale which is vouched for by General Stryker in his 
The Battles of Trenton and Princeton. This gallant 
deed occurred January 3, 1777, and is narrated in both 
these authorities as follows: 

Another interesting incident connected with the stay 
of the army at this time was the arrival in camp of the 
gallant Captain John Stryker's troop of Somerset horse 
laden with spoils from the enemy. Comwallis in his 
hurried march toward New Brunswick was so unfortunate 
as to disable a number of his baggage wagons. He left 
them at the side of the road in charge of a quartermaster 
with a guard of two hundred men. Captain Stryker, 
though having with him but twenty troopers, resolved 



1 20 ZTbe 1Rew 13ork of ^CQtcvt>a^ 

upon the capture of these stores. In the darkness of night, 
he distributed his small force in a circle completely sur- 
rounding the camp. The guards were suddenly astonished 
by a volley of musket-shots and the whistling of bullets, 
while from under the black arches of the bordering trees 
came loud and repeated shouts as if from a countless host. 
Demoralized by recent defeats, the men incontinently 
fled, thinking that they had been attacked by a large force 
of the Americans. Their flight was not so much caused by 
the roar of musketry as by the unearthly yells of the lu&ty 
troopers which so suddenly broke the stillness of the night. 
Captain Stryker was not long in so repairing the wagons 
that they could be hauled to a place of safety; he lost 
no time in making his way to Washington's camp with 
his treasures. The joy of the troops was unbounded when 
it was discovered that the wagons contained woolen 
clothing of which the men stood in sore need. 

"The captors, with their prize," says The Hist, of 
Hunterdon and Somerset Counties p. 57, "moved up as 
rapidly as possible on through Somerset County, 
crossed the Millstone at Somerset Court House, and 
overtook the main body a day or two later," at Pluck- 
amin. This troop was at the battles of Trenton and 
Princeton. After the battle of Germantown (October 
4, 1777), the New Jersey Militia were sent back to 
their own State, where their presence was thought to 
be necessary on account of the threatening attitude of 
Sir Henry Clinton, the British commander in New 
York, who early in September had invaded the State 
with 3000 men in two columns, one moving by way of 
Elizabethtown Point and the other by Fort Lee and 
uniting at New Bridge, above Hackensack. He re- 
mained in the State but a few days, but his presence 
and his threatening attitude after his withdrawal 
created a general alarm which continued through the 



Zbe jflrst Consletori? 121 

fall and succeeding winter. About the i8th of October, 
the welcome intelligence was received of the surrender 
to General Gates at Saratoga. The Jersey militia, of 
which the Horse Troop was a part, behaved most 
gallantly at Monmouth under General Philemon 
Dickenson in June 1778. After the burning of the 
church of Raritan (October 18, 1778) and the Court 
House at Millstone (October 27, 1779) the tide of war 
drifted away almost entirely from Somerset County. 

Yet a boy, when his enlistment expired, a longing for 
home caused Striker in the summer of 1780 to set out 
towards that goal. On reaching the ancestral habita- 
tion of his captain at Millstone he was fitted out as a 
yeoman and in this disguise proceeded on his way. 
At Tilly Tudlum, just north of Fort Lee, he succeeded 
in getting a boat wherewith he reached the shores of 
his mother's property ' ' in the enemy's country. ' ' Soon 
after arrival he took out a license from the Secretary 
of the Province on September 23d, to marry Mary, 
daughter of Johannes and Wyntje (Dyckman) Hopper 
and niece of Andrew Hopper, with whom he served as 
elder of the Church. She Hved only six years, dying 
at the age of twenty-six, on September 20, 1786. It 
was during her occupancy of the Bay that the British 
aggressions occurred. Her remains were deposited in 
the Hopper plot. Three children resulted from this 
union : 

Ann, born, Feb. 23; bap. June 25, 1781; d. unmarried 

April 12, i860. 
Lavinia (Winifred), b. May 27, 1782; m. Jordan Mott at 
Striker's Bay, Sept. 24, 1801; d. at, "Mott's Point," 
Mar. 16, 1862. Issue: 

John Hopper, b. April 20, 1803; d. Mar. 20, 1821. 
James Striker, b. Aug. 29, 1804; m. Oct. 8, 1833, 



122 ^be 'Wew IPork of IJeeterbap 

Amelia, dau. of Jacob B. Taylor and sister of 
Moses Taylor the railroad magnate; d. Dec. 
20, 1867. 
Samuel Coles, b. Aug. 7, 1806, member firm of 
Revo C. Hance & Co., dealers in wholesale dry 
goods at 174 Pearl Street, d. May 8, 1855. 
Jordan, b. Oct. 24, 1808; d. unmarried Feb. 20, 1874. 
Jacob Hopper, b. Feb. 20, 1810; married Aug. 18, 
1853, Julia M., daughter of W. W. Soule; d. 
May 14, 1861. 
Garrit Striker, b. Dec. 7, 1812; d. unmarried, April 

19, 1869. 
M. Hopper, b. Sept. 23, 1815; married June 27, 1850, 
Ruth Ann, daughter of John J. Schuyler; d. 
Jan. 9, 1864. 
Garrit Hopper, b. March 29, 1784; m. June 25, 1818, Eliza 
Bella, daughter of Capt. Alexander McDougal of the 
British Service; d. at "Rosevale, " April 15, 1868. 
(Vide, p. 389.) 

On December 26, 1790, James Striker married his 
first wife's cousin, Mary (Polly) , daughter of Johannes 
and Jacomijntje (Hopper) Horn, whose house was on 
the family tract as herein before described and where 
she was bom November 23, 1771. Her mother (in 
English, Jemima) was the only sister of Andrew and 
John Hopper the younger. As a result of this mar- 
riage, eight children were bom, all in the mansion, as 
were those of the first wife, viz. : 

Maria, b. Oct. 12, 1791; m. Joseph Cornell of Jamaica, 

L. I.; d. Aug. 9, 1868. 
James, b. July 14, 1793; d. Aug. i, 1806. 
John Horn, b. Sept. 29, 1795; m. June 27, 1838, Sarah 

Maria Harris; d. Sept. 7, 1861. 
Richard Albertson, b. Nov. 5, 1797; d. unmarried, Nov. 

30, 1835- 



Zl)e first (roneUtori? 123 

Helen, b. Dec. 3, 1799; m. (i) John S. Watkins by whom 
she had two children: 

Mary S. Watkins, m. Mch. 20, 1840, George H. 

Swords. 
Harriet E. Watkins, d. Nov. 11, 1836; funeral held 

at "the Bay" on Sunday, Nov. 13. 
Married (2) Gerard B, Aycrigg. Issue: 
Charles. 
George Washington, b. Nov. 23, 1802; m. June 26, 1831, 

Mary H. Smith; d. Aug. 22, 1867. 
Gabriel Furman, b. Aug. i, 1805; attended Bloomingdale 

Academy; d. unmarried, Aug. 5, 1832. 
Jemima, b. April 15, 1809 ;m. Oct. — , 1833, Edward Jenner 
Swords; d. Feb. 6, 1891. 

Their father led the life of a country gentleman, 
farmed sufficiently to meet the family wants, held 
slaves as was the custom of the period and twice ac- 
cepted office, being Assessor of the Bowery Division of 
the Outward, beginning in 1796 and Assistant Alder- 
man, in 1803, during the Mayoralty of DeWitt Clinton, 
to represent his home Ward, then the Ninth. He was 
appointed July 25, 1803 to list those residing in the 
North Ward qualified to act as jurors in the courts of 
record. His petition, dated June 25, 1804, for a grant 
of the riparian rights in front of his property was 
acceded to on July 2d, and it was the dock he con- 
structed thereon which enabled the delegations, excur- 
sions, target companies, etc., to land at the mansion 
when it became a tavern. He was a founder of the 
Church and was elected a member of the original 
Consistory at its organization in September 180 5, and 
remained in office for twenty-five years until incapaci- 
tated by illness. This body met at his residence very 
often during this long period. The first call to the 
pastorate, that to the Rev. David Schuyler Bogert 



124 Zbc "fflew l?orft of !Pe0tert)a^ 

was decided on there. On August 12, 181 6, this reso- 
lution, according to the minutes of the Consistory, was 
passed: "that Mr. Striker's request be granted, viz.: 
that he hold the pew that he purchased as a leased 
pew but that this privilege be not given to another 
person." It was moved and carried unanimously, on 
December 9th of the same year, at a meeting held at 
his house, "that Mr. Striker be presented with the 
ground which he occupies for a vault, as a small expres- 
sion of the gratitude and respect of the Consistory." 
He had theretofore mentioned his desire to purchase 
a plot therefor (November 13, 181 5) and had built a 
burial place on the spot selected. It was in the rear 
of the second church to be constructed, was above the 
ground in the shape of a house, and was the second 
earliest in date of any of the number of vaults added 
in the process of time. His remains were placed therein 
as were those of the following members of his family : 

Albert Russel, son of Joseph and Maria (Striker) Cornell. 

James Thomas, another child of the same and an infant 
of the same parents. 

Gabriel Furman Striker. 

Helen Striker Aycrigg. 

Garrit Hopper Striker, Jr., b. April 25, 1821; d. Sept. 
13, 1863. 

George Henry Striker, b. Aug. 18, 1824; d. Jan. 29, 1865: 
both sons of Gen'l. Striker. 

Jordan Mott, b. Feb. 6, 1786; d. Jan. 8, 1840. 

Winifred (Striker) Mott, b. May 27, 1782; d. March 
16, 1862, 

John Hopper Mott, b. April 20, 1803; d. March 20, 1821. 

Samuel Coles Mott, b. Aug. 7, 1806; d. May 8, 1855. 

The Striker remains now lie in Plot No. 40, E. D. of 
Trinity Cemetery, Carmansville, and those of the Motts 
were removed to Greenwood, Oct. 30, 1868. 



Zbc iflrst Consistory 125 

He served as first clerk of the Consistory and began to 
represent it at Classis July 5, 1809, his uncle Andrew 
Hopper having been the premier delegate to that assem- 
bly. His fiinal service in this position was rendered in 
October, 1826, and he was re-elected elder for the last 
time October 7, 1828. He suffered from a throat 
affection which incapacitated him for some two years 
prior to his decease. This occurred December 6, 1831. 
He left him surviving his widow, eight children, and 
three grandchildren. The will, dated February 12, 
1823, bequeathed to the widow all interest in his estate 
for life with reversion to her children, "my other 
children by my first wife having been fully provided 
for under the will of their grandfather John Hopper, 
deceased." His estate was valued at $400,000 by the 
compiler of the pamphlet published by the New York 
Sun entitled Wealth and Pedigree of the Wealthy Citi- 
zens of New York. The third edition thereof was is- 
sued in 1842, and a tenth publication in 1846. Therein 
space was found for the following comment : 

Mr. Striker died in the year 1831 at an advanced age. 
His is one of the oldest Knickerbocker families of our city. 
His estate has been handed down in regular succession 
from the year 1640 [sic] when his family emigrated to 
this country from Holland. Mr. Striker has held several 
civil offices of responsibility, — he was also proprietor of the 
splendid estate known as Striker's Bay, now leased by his 
widow, in whose possession the estate now is, as a public 
house. Mr. James Striker was the father of General 
Striker, a gentleman well known in this city as one of 
wealth and standing who also has held many exalted 
stations in our city and State. 

Action was begun in the Supreme Court in 1855 to 
partition the estate, and order was entered April 25, 



126 ^be IRew IJorft of 13e0ter^al? 

1856, adjudicating the interests of the parties and 
directing sale, which took place June nth, at the 
Merchants' Exchange. Mrs. Striker had removed 
shortly after her husband's decease to Tribes Hill, 
N. Y., accompanied by her children. She died at Am- 
sterdam, N. Y., October 6, i860. The house of John 
H. Striker was burned down later, when important 
treasures were lost in the shape of old reUcs, among 
which were the Dutch Bible and family portraits, 
including one of James Striker. 

Jacob Darsen 

The Harsen family in America, which name, by the 
way, is extinct in Jacob Harsen's branch, descends 
from Bemardi^s Hassens or Haszingh, who came 
from Breuckelen (which lent its name to Brooklyn) 
in the province of Uijtrecht, in Holland, and married 
in New York, July 7, 1669, Aeltje, a young woman 
of the same place, whose father was Jacob Wolfertse 
(van Kouwenhoven) and who emigrated with his 
father Wolfert Gerretse, the common ancestor, in 
1630, from Amersfoort, in the same province in Hol- 
land. They removed to Flatbush on Long Island 
where they became members of the church which Jan 
Strijcker had founded, and where they are entered in 
1677 on its records. They united with the Dutch 
Church at the capital, February 28, 1683 and in 1686 
lived Langs de Wal (in Wall Street) . His sister Ger- 
triiijdt married Wolfert Webber, the ancestor of Philip 
Webbers, another officer of the Church at Harsenville. 
Bernard us the pioneer had issue: 

Warnardus, bap. Aug. 27, 1670; mar. (i) July 7, 1689, 
Aaltje van Couwenhoven and (2) April 5, 1735, Sara 
Myer. Albany Coll., vol. iv., 131, states he mar. 




Portrait and signature of Jacob Harsen, Esq. , from the painting in possession 
of J. Harsen Purdy, Esq. 



Zl)c iflrst Coneletori? 127 

(3) Feb. 12, 1737, Catharyna Pruyn. His widow 
was buried Feb. i8, 1760 (Year Book, 1899, Holland 
Soc). 

Jacob, bap. Sept. 22, 1672; wits: Wolfert Webber and 
Neeltje Cotiwenhoven; mar. (i) Oct. 31, 1700, Em- 
erentia, daughter of Johannes van Gelder. Issue: 
Bernardiis, bap. Feb. 8, 1702; Aaltje, bap. Sept. 16, 
1705; Elisabeth, bap, July 27, 1707; Johannes, bap. 
Dec. II, 1709; d. young. 

He mar. (2) June 16, 1711, Cornelia, daughter of 
Cornelius Dyckman, a young woman of Albany. 
Issue: Cornelus, bap. April 21, 17 12; Johannes, b. 
Feb. 18, bap. Feb. 21, 17 14, d. Mar. 4, 1774, mar. (i) 
May 10, 1743, Margaret, daughter of Jacob and Ann 
Coiiwenhoven of Greenwich (New York City). He 
was the eldest son of Johannes van Coiiwenhoven, Sec- 
retary between the Bowery and Harlem in 1689; she 
died Dec. 18, 1743. Issue: Margaret, b. Dec. 8, 1743, 
d. unm. 1762. Jacob, bap. Mar. 9, 1716; Gerrit, bap. 
Nov. 10, 1 71 7, was sergeant of a militia company 
under Gerard Stuyvesant, 1738, and d. Sept. 20, 1798, 
mar. Nov. 28, 1757, Sara, daughter of Abraham Kip 
(N. Y. G. & B. Record, vol. viii., p. 131). Jacob, mar. 
(3) Oct. 21, 1 72 1, Jaq-demyntje, daughter of Abraham 
Bocke and widow of Hendrick Brevoort. Issue: 
Tanneke, bap. Aug. 19, 1722. 

Hester, bap. Dec. 19, 1674, wits: Cornells Pl-dvier, Catarina 
Roelofs. 

Heijltje (Helena) bap. Feb. 7, 1677, wits: Johannes van 
Brug, Sara van Coiiwenhoven, mar. Davidt Aartse. 

Johannes, bap. Nov. 14, 1678, wits: Hendrick van de 
Water, Marritje Loockermans, mar. (i) July 5, 171 2 
Maria Marschalk. 

Pieter, bap. Dec. 3, 1679, wits: Adolf Pieterzen, Grietie 
van Meiilen. 

Lijsbeth, bap. Jan. 17, 1685, wits: Isaack van Vleck, 
Aechtie Dircx. 



128 z\)c IRew ^ot\{ of IDeeter^a^ 

Gerret, of Vlakkebosch (Flatbush), mar. June 6, 1707, 
Engeltie Burger of New York. 

Johannes, son of Jacob and Cornelia (Dyckman) 
Harsen, mar. (2) March 10, 1749, Rachel, daughter 
Nicholas and Anneke Dyckman, b. Feb. 23, 1720, d. 
July 18, 1772. Anneke was the daughter of Jean 
Sevenhoven, a Huguenot from La Rochelle, who 
mar. Marie L'Escuier in the Dutch Church at New 
York, Sept. 22, 1693 (The Huguenot Emigration to 
America, vol. ii., pp. 69-70). This Johannes (John) 
became an executor of the will of Nicholas Dyckman 
in 1758. In this capacity he conveyed to his brother 
Jacob, a certain portion of the Dyckman farm in 
1763. Said Jacob accordingly became the owner of 
lands in this section and was the individual from 
whom Harsenville took its name. 

Issue of said John Harsen: 

Jacobus, b. March 5, 1750; d. July 24, 1835. 

Nicholas, b. Oct. 12, 1751; d. Aug. 14, 1758. 

Cornelia, b. March 5, 1753. 

Cornelius, b. Aug. 16, 1755 ; d. 1830; mar. (i) Anne, daugh- 
ter of Wessell Hopper, a brother of Andrew Hopper, 
lie. dated Jan. 25, 1782. His (2) marriage is recorded 
in Bailey's History of Danbury, Conn., p. 40, to Mary 
Skelding. They were "married in Bloomingdale, " 
Sept. 27, 1819. 

Johannes, b. Oct. 26, 1757; d. Aug. 20, 1758. 

Mary, b. July 19, 1759; d. 1772. 

Ann, b. Dec. 2, 1761. 

Jacobus, son of Johannes and Rachel (Dyckman) 
Harsen, m. Jan. 20, 1773, his first cousin Catherine 
Cozine. They were rocked in the same cradle. Her 
mother, Jannetje Dyckman, wife of Garret Cozine, 
when she visited her sister Rachel, wife of Johannes 



^be jfitBt Conelstoti? 129 

Harsen, was accustomed to put the children to sleep 
together. This cradle of solid mahogany with heavy 
brass handles and steady, easy-going rockers, became 
an heirloom. At stated times, and with ceremonious 
care, it was poHshed to the last possible pitch of bright- 
ness, and, as was the custom in all well-ordered Dutch 
households, was kept in a place of honor. Catherine 
was bom Oct. 8, 1749 and d. May 8, 1835. Her hus- 
band was appointed Ensign, ranking from Feb. 28, 
1789, Lieutenant in Col. James Miles Hughes's Regi- 
ment in 1790, and Captain in the same command 
April 12, 1792 "in the sixteenth year of our Inde- 
pendence," which office he resigned in 1795. Issue: 

Rachel, b. Jan. 6, 1774; d. July i, 1800. 
Garret, b. Dec. 4, 1775; d. March 20, 1780. 
John, b. Nov. 30, 1779; d. April 7, 1800. 
Cornelius, b. Nov. 7, 1783; d. Oct. 27, 1838. 
Jacob, b. April 28, 1788; d. Dec. 12, 1799. 

This Cornelius, mar. Nov. 13, 1805, Joanna Henri- 
etta, daughter of John Peter Ritter, b. Oct. 19, 1788, 
d. July 10, 1843. Her grandfather Johann Pieter 
Ritter, b. Oct. 9, 1698, m. June 9, 1722 Maria Elizabeth 
Fox, and her father, bearing the same name, b. Jan. 
5, 1747, d. Aug. 22, 1813. Issue of Cornelius and 
Joanna (Ritter) Harsen are detailed in another chapter. 

The benefactor of the Church was born, as hereto- 
fore noticed, March 5 , 1 7 50. He was a man of influence, 
of strong will, and decided character. His future 
father-in-law, Garret Cozine, became executor by the 
terms of the will of Nicholas Dyckman who had pur- 
chased the homestead in which his father Cornelius 
had lived and died in 1722, from the widow and his 
brothers Cornelius and George, the co-heirs, for ;^225 
on May 14, 1736. These executors were empowered 



I30 TOe IWew l?orft of l^eeterbai? 

to sell all the estate at public vendue or private sale, 
and through them the title to the southerly forty- 
seven acres of the farm became vested in said Cozine 
in 1763. At his death ten years later, this portion 
was divided into thirds. When, however, two of the 
beneficiaries, Cornelius and Hannah, died, their sister 
Catherine fell heir to the whole estate and this with 
the eastern part of the northern half of the Dyck- 
man tract formed the well known Harsen farm. She 
intermarried with Jacob Harsen in 1773. It is not 
to be doubted that the ceremony was performed in 
the homestead where the bride Hved with the above 
named brother and sisters and where the newly wedded 
pair continued to reside. Broad were the acres sur- 
rounding their home from the rear piazza of which 
the river view, terminating in the heights beyond, 
dazzled the beholder. Oh, those days of yore! How 
they do return in memory to disparage the present! 
Harsen lived a serene life of comfort and content and 
although four of his five children died in early life 
the surviving son, Cornelius, a Colonel in the War of 
1812 (Vide, p. 64), proved an honor to the name. 
In 1794, Jacob Harsen became one of the Board of 
Deacons of the Collegiate Church and as such, an 
officer of the School founded in 1633, the oldest edu- 
cational institution in continuous existence in New 
York. He served as Alderman of the Ninth — ^his 
home — Ward in 1803, at a time when it was somewhat 
more of an honor than later and "when honest prin- 
ciples were a recommendation for office." 

In the mansion the Church at Harsenville was 
organized. A founder thereof, Harsen was elected 
deacon at its organization in September, 1805. He 
erected the first edifice of the church on land just 



^be jfirst Coneletori? 131 

south of his residence, and with the site conveyed it to 
the congregation, at that time in embryo. His bene- 
factions are detailed in the next chapter. When 
Hopper resigned as treasurer, Harsen was appointed 
(October 2, 1809) in his stead, which position he filled 
but a year because of ill health. He became an Elder 
(Aug. II, 18 14) when it was resolved to increase the 
number by one, and represented the Consistory in 
Classis for the first time on Oct. 18. After 181 7 he 
appeared before that body in this capacity with singu- 
lar regularity for the following decade. The Board 
assembled at his house — the last session there — May 
12, 1835, at which time the call was indited to the Rev. 
Enoch van Aken, one which fixed that pastor's tenure 
for half a century to come. On August nth, the 
minutes state that John Parks was elected Elder " in 
place of Jacob Harsen who had died since our last 
meeting." He passed from his sphere of usefulness 
July 24, 1835, somewhat over two months after his 
wife had departed this life. He had built the first 
vault in the churchyard of the second House of Wor- 
ship, space for which having been granted him by 
resolution passed June 21, 18 14, "in consideration of 
what Mr. Harsen has done and is still doing for the 
Church . . . without any expense for the groimd, " 
and therein his remains were deposited. Mrs. Great- 
orex asserts that 

the family vault having been found unsuitable for burial 
purposes owing to the dampness of the soil was abandoned 
and Dr. Harsen, the grandson of its builder, purchased 
ground in Trinity Cemetery at 155th Street, Carmans- 
ville. The remains of three generations of his ancestors 
were removed under his own supervision. The monument 
which stood in the rear of the Church surrounded by an 



132 Zf)c IRew j?orft of ©eeterbap 

iron railing was re-erected in Trinity and is to be seen there 
to-day. 

The Harsen remains now lie in vaults Nos. 886 and 
915, Westerly Division, of that cemetery. The Chief 
Clerk of Trinity Corporation, writing under date of 
March 26, 1907, says, 

we have caused a long and careful search to be made of 
all our Cemetery records and they do not give any account 
of the interment of Jacob Harsen or James Striker, nor 
do they show that any remains were removed from the 
old Bloomingdale Church to our Cemetery. 

A record was kept among the papers of the family 
of those whose remains were removed from the church, 
but it has failed to materialize in time to be incorporated 
here. The list which the Corporation enclosed of 
those lying in the above vaults contains only the names 
of those who died since the removal. 

Jacob Harsen died seized of the farm. His will, 
dated March 26th, and proved Sept. 15, 1835 (L. 
74, Wills, 215), after certain legacies to his wife and 
others, devised 

unto my wife Catherine my mansion house, buildings and 
lands thereunto belonging (whereon I now live) situate at 
Harsen ville, in the Twelfth Ward of the City of New 
York, on the westerly side of Tenth Avenue . . . con- 
taining about fifteen acres of land, to have and to hold 
during the term of her natural life. 

As she had died before him by a brief space, Jacob 
Harsen, M.D., his grandson, son of testator's son 
Cornelius, entered into possession of the homestead 
under the terms of the will. Specific portions of his 
lands were bequeathed also to him in fee and another 
section to his executors, John A. Mildeberger, broker. 



^be 3flr0t Conelstori? 133 

James Cockcroft, physician and the said grandson, 
in trust for John Peter Ritter Harsen, another grand- 
son. As he died in 1842 unmarried and intestate 
provision for his issue was rendered void and his 
brothers and sisters took his interest, it being claimed 
that under the decision in Moore vs. Lyons, 25 Wendell, 
118, all the grandchildren (i. e., the children of Colonel 
Harsen) who were living at the death of testator took 
vested remainders in the land devised in trust for said 
John Peter Ritter Harsen. The testator left other 
lands in Bloomingdale, derived through his wife from 
her father Garret Cozine and which were a part of the 
Cozine farm situated in the fifties. 

Jacob Harsen, M.D., who inherited so much of his 
grandfather's property under the will, was of unmixed 
Knickerbocker descent. His early years were spent in 
Harsenville and at the age of eight years he became 
a scholar at Bloomingdale Academy — a celebrated 
school in those days. Dr. John G. Adams read a 
memoir of Dr. Harsen on June i, 1864, before the New 
York Academy of Medicine, and it is to that paper 
that we are indebted for the accompanying data. 
He says: 

It was at this period, in 181 5, that our acquaintance with 
Dr. Harsen commenced. We were members of the same 
class and were more intimately acquainted in consequence 
of the summer residences of our parents being in the same 
neighbourhood. We well remember him as a rosy-cheeked 
boy, full of fun and frolic, amiable in his disposition, always 
neat and tidy in his person and with as much love for study 
as is usually found in boys of that age. The school having 
been discontinued in 181 8 [the date is incorrect for one 
of the author's uncles attended it in 1820, and his school 
books are still extant marked with the scholar's name,] 
it was decided to place Jacob under the charge of Mr. John 



134 JLfye mew l?orft of ipeaterbai? 

Walsh, at that time in high repute as a teacher, with a 
view to his preparation for college. He continued with 
Walsh until the fall of 1821 and in October of that year 
was admitted to the Freshman Class in Columbia College, 
taking a respectable mark for scholarship. After passing 
through the usual terms of his collegiate course he gradu- 
ated in July 1825. Having selected medicine as a pro- 
fession, he in October entered, as pupil, the office of 
Alexander H. Stevens, who, at that time, was in the zenith 
of his professional career, both as a general practitioner, as 
one of the surgeons of the New York Hospital and sub- 
sequently, in 1862, as Professor of the Principles and 
Practice of Surgery in the College of Physicians and Sur- 
geons. During the last years of his preparatory course, 
our friend was most assiduously devoted to his studies and 
in his attendance upon the office examinations, so much 
so, that the late Dr. D wight Harris, then in charge of this 
department, had frequent occasion to compliment the 
candidate on his excellent preparation for the approaching 
ordeal. He received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 
March 1829. His venerable preceptor. Dr. Stevens, writes: 
"My memories of Dr. Harsen, during his pupilage, are 
quite fresh. I honored his frank and truthful character, 
the clearness and distinctness of his mental faculties, the 
cautiousness with which he drew his conclusions and the 
outspoken fearlessness with which he supported them." 

After graduation he continued to live at home and 
opened an office in his father's residence in Greenwich, 
near Charlton Street. He gradually retired from 
general practice but devoted himself to the relief of 
the suffering poor of the neighbourhood. During the 
prevalence of the first cholera epidemic in 1832 he 
rendered incalculable service to the commimity as one 
of the five physicians appointed by the Medical Council, 
in which position the records of the Council show that 
he performed the largest amount of labor and for the 



-:■- ' •n-:7y',:y^Tf^-^-'^^'7^^\ 




THE HARSEN MANSION 
From a pen and ink drawing by Thomason 



Zbc Jirst Coneletor^ 135 

longest period. On the death of his grandfather in 
1835 he was enabled to carry out a long-cherished 
design of visiting the Old World, making an extensive 
tour through Great Britain and the Continent, where 
he visited Russia and later Algeria. In January 1842, 
he was elected one of the Managers of the Northern 
Dispensary of which he was President at the time of 
his death. He was a member of the St. Nicholas 
Society from its organization in 1835, was one of its 
attending physicians in 1843, '44, and '45; and in 
1859, '60, and '62 he was honored with the office of 
Vice-President. He held the same office in the New 
York Eye Infirmary, the Society for the Relief of 
Widows and Orphans of Medical Men, and a Trustee 
and a member of the Council of the Academy of 
Medicine. 

Let us quote further: 

On the 30th of April, 1859, Dr. Harsen addressed a com- 
munication to the Trustees of the College of Physicians 
and Surgeons announcing his intention to found an annual 
prize of a gold medal, of the value of fifty dollars, together 
with the sum of one hundred dollars in money, to be awarded 
for the best written report of Clinical Instruction, at the 
New York Hospital, and, at the same time, engaging to 
defray the expense of a die for the medal. On the 20th 
of May i860 he again wrote to the Board of Trustees that 
"believing that an enlargement of the fund established 
by me to promote the study of medical and surgical prac- 
tise in the New York Hospital would more completely 
fulfill the objects sought to be attained, I have increased 
the amount of said fund, to enable the Committee to award 
two additional Prizes, consisting of a silver medal, with 
fifty dollars in money, and a bronze medal with twenty- 
five dollars in money." This most liberal offer met with 
the most cordial co-operation of the Board of Trustees 



136 Ztbe flew l^ork of l?e0ter^a^ 

and their hearty thanks were tendered to the donor. The 
services of an artist of great merit, Mr. Miiller, were secured 
and under the auspices and good taste of the Committee, 
(Drs. Buck and Delafield), a die was designed and com- 
pleted which is an honor to American art. The medal 
bears on its obverse a head of the donor; on its reverse is 
represented a clinical group, at the New York Hospital; 
both after photographs from life. Dr. Harsen, at the 
suggestion of the Faculty, adopted the plan of a bronze 
medal for each prize and the respective sums of one hun- 
dred and fifty, of seventy-five, and of twenty-five dollars, 
in money, to designate the order of merit. He had the 
satisfaction of witnessing the successful carrying out of 
his purpose and was present at the first distribution of 
the prizes of the Harsen Fund, 

He had by his will bequeathed to the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons sixteen lots of ground at 
Seventieth Street and Eighth Avenue and a legacy 
of $400,000 for the establishment of a hospital, in con- 
nection with, the College. After the capture of Fort 
Siunter and the full inauguration of the war, his 
mind became depressed at the gloomy prospect of 
disunion, with all its concomitant evils. This led him 
to fear lest, in consequence of the anticipated depre- 
ciation of real estate, and all other property, he might 
not be able to make that provision for his family 
which he desired, whereupon he changed his purpose 
and revoked these munificent bequests. As Dr. Adams 
says, who can fail to honor the intention, even though 
from the force of circumstances, it was not possible 
to put it in execution? During the War he was an 
active member of the "Soldiers' Lint and Bandage 
Society" and the "Surgical Aid Society," to which he 
contributed largely of his time and money. 

In August, 1862, the Doctor's condition changed 



^bje 3fir0t (Tonglstori? 137 

from that of robust health, dyspeptic symptoms set 
in, his mental depression increased, and some difficulty 
of articulation and an unsteadiness of gait were noticed. 
His strength rapidly declined until at the end of 
December he gently breathed his last. "Thus passed 
away from earth" says the Memoir, "at the age of 55 
years a man of generous impulse, of high social po- 
sition, favored by fortune, esteemed by his fellow- 
men; truly, a man of honor and of noble aspirations." 
Ftmeral services were held at St. Bartholomew's 
Church. His will bequeathed sixty thousand dollars 
to different societies and institutions ; among them ten 
thousand dollars to the New York Eye Infirmary, ten 
thousand dollars to the Northern Dispensary, and a 
like sum to the New York Society for the Relief of 
Widows and Orphans of Medical Men. A marble 
bust of the donor by MuUer has been placed in the 
building of the former institution, while the Northern 
Dispensary has erected a marble tablet, with his pro- 
file, by Launitz, in medallion, to evince their appre- 
ciation of the Doctor's thoughtftilness. Resolutions 
of respect and condolence were passed by the above 
Societies and in addition by the Academy of Medicine, 
the New York Historical Society, the St. Nicholas 
Society, the United States Trust Company, in which 
deceased had been a member of the Board of Trustees 
from its organisation, the Greenwich Savings Bank, 
of which he was First Vice-President and the Firemen's 
Insurance Company of which he was a director. 

Doctor Harsen was bom in the homestead. Al- 
though his brother and some of his sisters were 
baptized in the Church his name does not appear 
on the records. An appropriate ending to this sketch 
is found in the chapter entitled " Bloomingdale — 



138 ^be 1Rew l?ork of IJeeterba^ 

Last View of Harsenville, " in From the Battery to 
Bloomingdale : 

September, 1873. — ^^"^^ years ago, I [Mrs. Greatorex] 
made my first picture of this old home of the Harsen 
family. The lane leading to it from the Bloomingdale 
Road (now the Boulevard) is rougher and has a larger 
growth of weeds than it then had; but the place is kept 
neatly and its tenant for forty-five years, Madame Canaux 
[should be Canal] comes to the door with the same kind 
welcome. We beg to sit with her in her kitchen, so cool 
and bien propre, where we find shade from the intolerable 
heat and glare and from its windows we look at the Hudson 
and the opposite shore of Guttenberg. The sloops and 
steamboats pass up and down the river, over which the 
soft golden haze (first indication of the coming autumn) 
is hanging. We can forget the hard pavements and the 
weary rows of new houses on the other side and think, 
as we see around us the fields, the trees and the broad 
peaceful river, that we are still in unaltered Bloomingdale. 
. , . Madame 's husband rented this house and the 
farm belonging to it and they began their life of honorable 
and lowly toil. She had brought with her from Havre 
her skill in fine laundry and the making-up of delicate 
laces. The husband tilled the ground, making it a pro- 
ductive and profitable market-garden. She worked for 
the ladies in the neighborhood as well as for some families 
in the city and her remembrances of and comments upon 
some of the grandes-dames of the time were both clear and 
sharp. . . . We must leave Madame Canaux now, 
having much to say of the Harsen house and its owners. 
The hall is the most interesting part of the dwelling, with 
a wooden arch and low ceiling. It is roomy and sub- 
stantial and with furniture to correspond with its age, 
it might yet be made a comfortable dwelling; and as we 
have said, the view from the west side, where the picture 
shows the distant trees and a bit of the river, is very lovely. 



^be fxvet Consletori^ 139 

and still almost unobstructed. . . . The Harsen fam- 
ily had borne earnest share in the work of the early colony 
and of the settlement and progress of the City of New York. 
Their old home, behind its foreground of ruder houses, 
rocks and trees, still rises tranquil and sheltered; but its 
history as the home of the Harsens is forever closed and past. 

pbilip mebbera 

This family came from Amsterdam. Wolfert Web- 
ber or Webbers, the pioneer, a putative scion of royalty, 
reached New Amsterdam early in its history with his 
wife Anna, daughter of Jan Walles deceased. His 
father bore the same name and his mother Annetje 
Selijns, the daughter of Neisgen Selijns the widow of 
Hendrik Coek or Koeck, mentioned the daughter in 
her will of May 25, 1610. On April 2, 1650, he was 
granted by Stuyvesant a piece of land lying "beyond 
the Fresh Water," between the land of Cornelis 
Jacobsen Stille and the valley or meadow ground. This 
farm was located between present Chatham (Park Row) 
and Madison Streets and ran from Pearl to James 
Streets. This district took its name from the beautiful 
pond long known as the Kolch, corrupted by the 
English into Collect, and which the Dutch usually 
spoke of as the " Versche water, " or fresh water. The 
outlet into the East River flowed through a consider- 
able expanse of swamp and meadow land, the latter 
being designated as Wolfert 's meadows and the low 
land as Wolfert's valley. In 1657 he complained that 
his neighbor Stille had torn down the partition fence 
repeatedly. Both brought charges at the trial, in- 
volving the breaking of another fence in the valley, 
the stealing of the "hammer of the plough" and the 
wheel of a wheelbarrow. The Worshipful Schepens 
Jan Vinje and Willem Beekman were directed to inspect 



I40 ttbe IRew l?ork of l^eeterba)? 

the premises and to issue such orders as the occasion 
required. Numerous entries in the Court Minutes are 
found in which Wolfert was a party. For instance: 
this curious complaint was entered against Judith 
Verleth^ in 1655: Wolfert stated that she had for 
a long time pestered him. She came with her sister 
Sara over to his house last week and beat him and 
afterwards threw stones at him. He pleaded that 
said Judith be warned to let him live quietly in his 
own house. On May 8, 1657, we find that Nicholas 
Verleth complained of Webber about a pile of stone, 
saying, " If anybody removes what belongs to another 
without his knowledge it is thieving. My father de- 
posited some stone by the Fresh Water Pond before 
his own door and Webber removed it, whereupon we 
had words and Webber promised to deliver other stone 
instead; we want him ordered to bring back to this 
same place the same stone.'' The Court directed said 
stone to be returned within eight days. Again, 
Webber undertook in the same year to prevent Albert 
Albertsen, the employer of his son, from sending him 
on business to Pavonia (Jersey City), inasmuch as the 
agreement was that he should be employed only in 
the capital. Because of the danger to be expected 
" both by water as from the Indians, of which he has 
had a sample" he demanded that the defendant be 
ordered to employ the son in the city or else to send 
him back home. Should any misfortune happen him, 
either in passing over the river or from the savages or 
otherwise, he, as his father, had done his duty in 
giving this notification and would avenge himself on 

1 Judith was the daughter of Casper and Judith Verleth, and in 
1666 married Nicholas Bayard. Nicholas, her brother, married 
Anne Stuyvesant. 



defendant. The latter stated that he had hired the 
boy to reside with and serve him, unconditionally, 
which statement the plaintiff controverted and was 
ordered to produce proof at the next Court day. This 
ends the case as far as the records define. 

In 1655 his "little daughter," Sara, was captured 
by the Indians, but was released with those first set 
free. Two old Bibles which she had received from her 
captors and which had been claimed and taken from 
her after her return home became the"subject of a con- 
troversy. Her mother averred at the investigation 
in November that they had been wrongly taken by 
defendant's wife. The latter's husband testified that 
certain handwriting therein proved them to have been 
his books "before the late trouble with the Indians." 
The Court ordered restitution but required defendant 
to pay the girl 5 guilders for "the carrying of, and 
incurred trouble with, the said Books." On January 
12, 1656, said money was deposited and on the next 
day Webber accepted and received it for his daughter. 
She married (i) April i, 1661, Laurens van der Spiegel, 
a young man from VHssengen, a man of considerable 
property, says Valentine's History of the City of New 
York, who on the reconquest by the Dutch, became 
a Schepen Aug. 17, 1673. The ceremony took place 
at the house of the bridegroom's aunt, Christina 
Capoens, widow of Capt. Jacob Hey, who had become 
the wife of David Jochemsen from Amsterdam, August 
5, 1659. Her will, dated June 17, 1687, names her 
"cousin," Hon. Rip van Dam, Merchant, as an exe- 
cutor. He married Sara van der Spiegel, bom Dec. 
16, 1663, daughter of Laurens and Sara Webbers, 
on Sept. 24, 1684. The latter married (2) Johannes 
Provoost, widower of Sara Staets, June 25, 1685. He 



142 Z\)c flew l?orft of ipester^ai? 

had been the first Comptroller of the Windmill, near 
the North River shore and Assistant Commissary of 
Stores at New Amsterdam. On his removal to Fort 
Orange (Albany) in 1656, he had served as Town Clerk, 
dating from Sept. 28th of that year, to which office 
he had been reappointed Oct. 6, 1673. At the date 
of his marriage he returned to the capital and there 
he married (2) Anna Mauritz, widow of Domine 
Wilhelmus van Nieuwenhuysen. 

In Sara's will 1685 she designated "her cousin, the 
honorable and well-learned Domine Henricus Selijns" 
as tutor and guardian of her minor children. He was 
the father of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church hav- 
ing secured its charter — the first issued in the colony 
— and at his death in 1701 was the minister at New 
York. His second wife was Juffrou Margaret de Riemer, 
widow of the Hon. Cornelis Steenwyck. He sustained 
a high character as an able and faithful minister and 
was distinguished for his Hterary acquirements. Steen- 
wyck served as Schepen, Burgomaster, Mayor, Orphan 
Master, and Councillor of New Netherland. Margareta 
Selijns, the Domine's widow, in her will bearing date 
Jan. 25, 1711 (Vide N. Y. His. Soc. Abstracts, 1893, 
page 115) makes this provision: 

To the children of Wolfert and Arnout Webber, the 
pictures of the father and mother of my late husband, 
Domine Selijns and the pictures of my said husband and 
his brother and his when they were children. And the 
picture of the father and mother of my said husband's first 
wife. All of which pictures are to be sold at auction and 
the highest bidder among the said grantees and the money 
to be divided among them. 

The famous Anneke Jans has been claimed in some 
quarters to have been an aunt of the above devisees. 



Zbc Jfltst (Tonsietor^ 143 

It is asserted that she and Wolfert Webber, Sr., had 
the same father, viz., Jan Webber. Her mother and 
the mother of Marritje Jans [married (i) Thijmes 
Jansen, (2) Dirck CorneHszen, Aug. 28, 1646] was then 
Trijn Jansen (or Jonas) the first mid-wife at New Am- 
sterdam. This Holland custom was transferred to New 
Netherland about 1630. The daughter, Marritje, by 
the first wife, married Govert Loockermans, July 11, 
1649 and this would seem to account for theWebber- 
Loockermans relationship. Marritje Jans was sent 
to the Colony at the expense of the West India Com- 
pany and arrived with the first emigrants. The con- 
nection between her and the Webbers is explained in 
yet another way in The Goede Vrouw of Mana-ha-ta, 
which states that she was accompanied to New Am- 
sterdam by her son who was called Wolfert Webbers 
and two young daughters, with the additional informa- 
tion that these young people were said to be the grand- 
children of William IX., Prince of Orange. With the 
pecuHar fashion of the day the last name of the family 
is spelled and rendered capriciously, sometimes being 
written Jans, at other times Jonas, while the son of 
Marritje Jans is called by the name of Webber. Not- 
withstanding the confusion it is a well authenticated 
fact that Annetje Webber (Jans) was the daughter 
of Marritje Jonas. 

On May 3, 1660, an order was issued in council per- 
mitting the houses of said Wolfert and of Thomas 
Hall to remain and a village or hamlet to be formed 
near the bouwery of Augustyn Heerman or that of the 
Director-General on Manhattan Island (Calendar of 
DutchMSS.,p. 196). Wolfert and Hall owned a tract 
of land there in common. The latter entered com- 
plaint that the former put more stock on it than he 



144 Zbc flew 13ork of ^cetevt>a^ 

was entitled to, and on Mar. 23, 1662 judgment was 
granted plaintiff and defendant was ordered to fence 
his share {vide, Ibid., p; 87). Webbers had con- 
siderable realty east of the Bowery besides the home- 
stead plot above mentioned (vide map in Hoffman's 
Estates and Rights, opp. p. 226). The latter property 
was confirmed by Governor NicoUs to Annette, his 
widow, June 18, 1670. It is known as No. 17 on the 
map in Valentine's History, etc., opp. p. 379, and 
became the Roosevelt Farm. 

Beside the daughter Sara, Wolfert had two sons, 
Wolfert and Amoult and two daughters, Anne and 
Hester. On Feb. 28, 1664 he and his wife, together 
with Sara and her husband, representing Hester and 
Amout joined in conferring powers of attorney upon 
Anne, all of whom were co-heirs of Sara Depier, widow 
of Jan Walles, deceased at Monfoort for the purpose 
of receiving their inheritance {vide Hoi. Soc. Year 
Book, 1900, p. 157). Hester Webbers of Amsterdam 
married Oct. 10, 1666, Pieter Abramszen van Deuren, 
and Anne of New York married Jacques Fonteijn of 
Boswijck, May 20, 1689. The eldest son Wolfert 
married Geertje Hassingh (Harsen) or, as she was also 
called, Grietje Warnardus. No record of the marriage 
has been found. Their children are noted in the Church 
Records, as follows: 

Warnard,^ bap. Nov. 13, 1666. Wits. : Bernardus Hassing 
and Anna Wallis. 

Anna, bap. July 4, 167 1. Wits.: Laurens van der Spiegel 
and Aeltje van Co-dwenhoven. She m. Jacques Fon- 
teijn of Boswijck (Bushwick) as above stated. Both 
were living near the Fresh Water. 

Hillegond, bap. March 25, 1674. Wits. Aernout Webbers 
and Hillegond Megapolensis. This sponsor was the 




o o 



Zbc 3fir0t Consistory? 145 

daughter of Johannes Megapolensis, the Domine, 
who at the age of 39 was sent from Holland by the 
patroon in 1642 to officiate as minister at Rensselaer- 
wyck. His wife and four children, one of them Hille- 
gond, accompanied him. Her namesake became the 
wife of Philip Menthaer (Minthorne) of Vlissengen 
July 19, 1696. 

Johannes, bap. Dec. 12, 1677. Wits.: Pieter Abrahamszen 
van Duursen and Saertie Webbers. 

Bernardus, bap. Nov. 25, 1680. Wits. : Hendrik Corneliszen 
and Rebecca Idens. 

Either this Wolfert or his father was at the colony 
on the Delaware in 1662 {vide Doc. His., N. Y., vol. 
xii., p. 381). Wolfert, Jr., served as Magistrate of 
Haerlem^ in 1674, appointed Aug. i6th, under the 
Dutch and after the English conquest was Assistant 
Alderman in 1685, was named as such in the Dongan 
Charter the following year, and represented the Out- 
ward in 1688, 1689, and again in 1706 and 1707. He 
and his wife joined the Church in 1689 {Holland 
Soc. Year Book, 1896). A survey of "35 acres lying 
upon ye Island Manhattan at ye sand hills near the 
Bouwery laid out for Wolfert Webbers, Henrick 
Cornelius, and Bastiaen Elson" was made Oct. 26, 1677 
by Ro: Ryder, Surveyor {Calendar Land Papers, 

P- 137)- 

That the founder selected a habitation better than 

he knew is evident from a survey of Washington 

Irving's well-known and appreciated narrative of the 

Golden Dreams of Wolfert Webber. The tale proceeds 

in this wise: 

The Webber dynasty continued in uninterrupted 

» The Court of Haerlem was erected Aug. 16, 1660. The Treaty 
of Westminster signed Feb. 9/19, 1674, terminated the Dutch 
control. 



146 TObe IRew l?ork of IJeater^ai? 

succession, and never did a line give more unquestion- 
able proofs of legitimacy. The eldest son succeeded 
to the looks as well as to the territory of his sire; and 
had the portraits of this line of tranquil potentates 
been taken, they would have presented a row of heads 
marvellously resembling in shape and magnitude the 
vegetables over which they reigned. The seat of gov- 
ernment continued unchanged in the family mansion : — a 
Dutch-built house, with a front, or rather gable end 
of yellow brick, tapering to a point, with the customary 
iron weather-cock at the top. Everything about the 
building bore the air of long-settled ease and security. 
Flights of martins peopled the little coops nailed 
against its walls, and swallows built their nests under 
the eaves ; and every one knows that these house-loving 
birds bring good luck to the dwelling where they take 
up their abode. In a bright sunny morning in early 
summer it was delectable to hear their cheerfiil notes, 
as they sported about in the pure sweet air, chirping 
forth, as it were, the greatness and prosperity of the 
Webbers. 

The apocryphal tale goes on to relate that Wolfert 
Webber did not continue to remain satisfied with his 
lot. The stories told at the tavern of the treasure 
buried by Capt. Kidd and other pirates got on his 
nerves. He began of nights to dig up his garden to 
the loss of the crops and soon he began to feel the 
pinch of poverty. With the consequent fall in ma- 
terial resources grew the fever of finding this hidden 
wealth. In this endeavor he and "a little dark 
mouldy man of medicine" whom he took into his 
confidence, went in a cockleshell of a skiff one inky 
night to the shores of the island lying opposite Hell- 
gate to a spot where rtmior asserted golden stores were 



^be jflrst Conelstor^ 147 

concealed. Their adventures shotild be read to re- 
ceive full appreciation. Suffice it to say that dis- 
appointment with a large D perched on their banners 
and the expedition returned home with no compen- 
sation for their trouble. But gradually the city spread 
its suburbs around the Webber domain. Houses 
sprang up to intercept their prospects. The rural 
lanes in the vicinity began to grow into the bustle 
and populousness of streets; in short, with all the 
habits of rustic life, the family began to find them- 
selves the inhabitants of a city. Before many months 
had elapsed, a great bustling street passed through the 
very centre of the Webber garden, just where Wolfert 
had dreamed of finding treasure. His golden dream 
was accomplished; he did indeed find an unlooked-for 
source of wealth; for when his paternal lands were 
distributed into building lots and rented out to safe 
tenants, instead of producing a paltry crop of cabbages, 
they returned him an abundant crop of rents; inso- 
much that on quarter-day, it was a goodly sight to see 
his tenants knocking at his door, from morning to 
night, each with a Httle round-bellied bag of money, 
a golden produce of the soil. The ancient mansion, 
instead of being a Httle yellow-fronted Dutch house 
in a garden, now stood boldly in the midst of a street, 
the grand house of the neighborhood, for Wolfert 
enlarged it with a wing on each side and a cupola or 
tea-room on top, where he might climb up and smoke 
his pipe in warm weather. So he waxed old and rich 
and corpulent and Wolfert's dream was at last realized. 

Arnolilt^ Webber of Amsterdam, married (i), Aug. 25, 1669, 
Ariaentje (Jannetje) Ariaens or Adriaens, a young 
woman from Brabant. They lived in 1686 near the 
Arme Bouwery (Poor Farm) and were members of 



148 JS^e "fflew l?orR of l?e0tcrbap 

the church that year. He owned and conveyed the 
Great Kill Farm in 1 7 1 3 , before it became the property 
of Matthew Hopper, in which family it remained for 
over seventy-two years. Issue : 

Wolfert,^ bap. Nov. 14, 1670. Wits.: Wolfert 

Webbers and Anna Wallis. 
Marritie, bap. Oct. 19, 1672. Wits.: Pieter Abra- 

hamsz van Duiirsen and Sara Webbers. 
Adriaen, bap. Nov. 18, 1674. Wits.: Laurens van 
der Spiegel and Anna Wallis. 

Wolfert ^ married Grietje (Margaret) Jacobs (Stille) 
Oct. 29, 1697. He was a large landholder in lower 
Bloomingdale. It is indeed possible that some of the 
wealth acquired as related in Irving's tale enabled 
the family to purchase these lands. His wife joined 
him in 1748 in conveying a plot near the Great Kill 
which became part of the Norton inheritance. He 
owned, besides, an immense tract on the east side of 
the Bloomingdale Road from 41st Street nearly to 
49th Street, bounded north by the Hopper farm and 
east to Sixth Avenue and again on the west side of 
the Road from 43d Street to beyond 45th Street 
meeting the river at 51st Street. His heirs, viz.: 
Amoiit Webbers and Sarah, his wife, Jacob Webbers 
and Margaret, his wife, Frederick Webbers and Lena, 
his wife, Cornelius Webbers and Jannetje his wife, 
Ariente van Arden (late Ariante Webbers), Altie 
Somerindicke (late Altie Webbers) and Margaret 
Webbers, daughter and heir of his deceased son John, 
conveyed this entire property, Oct. 6, 1759, for £1500 
(L. 42, Conv. 27). It does not add to the joy of 
mundane affairs to dwell on what the fates have in 
store nor what might have been, but had this temtory 
been retained, the Webbers would have outclassed many 



^be ifirfit Consletori? 149 

present day landed proprietors. Wolfert's golden 
dreams, in this instance miscarried. In 1740, his 
sons, Arnout, Frederick, Comelus, and Isaac were 
admitted as Freemen. Issue: 



Aernout,* bap. May 22, 1698. Wits. : Wolfert Webbers, St., 
and Classje Jacobs, m. Sarah Romein, Oct. 7, 1733, 
who was the widow of Samuel Minthorn whom she 
m. Sept. 30, 1727. Arnout's will dated Aug. 3, 1776, 
was proved in 1784 (L. 37, Wills, 187). All the 
children detailed below are mentioned therein with 
the exception of the first named. He had a grand- 
daughter, Grace Stilwell, also. Issue: 

Margrietje,^ bap. April 21, 1734. Wits.: Wolphert 
Webbers and Ariaantje Webbers, wife Jo- 
hannes van Norden; m. William Laffra, Mar. 
10, 1 761 and d. before 1776; no issue. 
Hillegonda, bap. Nov. 28, 1736. Wits.: Philip 
Minthorne and Annatje Ral his wife; m. Nov. 
9, 1760, David Banta. 
Sara, bap. Oct. 3, 1739. Wits.: Jacob Webbers and 
Margriete de Riemer his wife; m. Jonathan 
Hardman, May 4, 1794. Their children were 
baptized by Doctor Gunn and will be men- 
tioned hereafter. 
Alida, bap. April 28, 1742. Wits.: Egbert Somerin- 
dyk and Alida Webbers who had been lately 
married (April 21, 1739). 
Annatje, bap. Dec. 12, 1744. Wits.: John Man, Jr., 

and Annatje Minthorn his wife. 
Olfred, bap. Aug. 2, 1747. Wits.: John Minthorn 

and Jannetje Elswood, his wife, 
Philip, the deacon. 

Johannis, bap. April 23, 1755. Wits.: Philip Min- 
thorn and Tanneke Harsse (Harsen) his wife. 
Jacob,* bap. Dec. 8, 1700. Wits.: Jacob Cornelisze Stille 



ISO ^be 1Rew !?orh of ^cetctbw^ 

and Marretje Hendricx, his wife; m. Margarete (de 
Riemer) Shute, widow, June i8, 1739. Issue: 

Olivardus, 5 bap. April 27, 1740. Wits.: Aernout 

Webbers and Maria Goderius, widow of William 

Cunningham. 
Alida, bap. Oct. 4, 1741. Wits.: Isaac de Riemer 

and Elizabeth de Kay, j. d. (young woman). 
Elizabeth, bap. Oct. 17, 1742. Wits.: the same 

parties. 
Petrus, bap. Feb. 6, 1745. Wits.: Elbert Somer- 

indijck and Alida Webbers, his wife. 

No marriages of any of these children are of record 
in the Dutch Church. N. Y. Marriages states that 
Petrus, m. May 9, 1770, Catherine Ward and had 
William 6 b. May 2, 1783, bap. Aug. 23, 1784. Wits.: 
John and Sara Webbers, and Elizabeth, b. Feb. 26, 
bap. Mar. 13, 1785, before same sponsors. Their 
father had land in Bloomingdale on the east side of 
the Road between 47th and 49th Streets, part of that 
conveyed by the heirs of his grandfather Wolfert as 
above narrated. How he became possessed thereof 
is not shown by the title, no conveyance being of 
record. At any rate, he and his wife Catherine deeded 
seven acres and 62 rods of it to Ebenezer Turell in 
1 7825 (L. 42, Conv. 284. Consideration, ;^2 5o). 

Ariaentie,* bap. July 4, 1703. Wits.: Aernhout Webber 
andl^Claesje Webber; m. Johannes van Norden, both 
from the "Groote Kil" (the Great Kill) April 8, 1721. 
Frederik, bap. Sept. 23, 1705. Wits.: Frederik Stille and 
Saratje Webbers; m. Helena Banta (no date). Issue: 
Wolfert,^ bap. July 31, 1737. Wits.: Arnout Web- 
bers and Sara Minthorn, his wife. He m. Eliza- 
beth — and had Ann,* bap. Sept. 17, 1780. 
Wits.: Hendrik and Hanna Banta. 



^be 3flr0t Consletov^ 151 

Trijntje, bap. Feb. 25, 1739. Wits.: Wierd Banta 

and Trijntje Loots, wife of Hendrik Banta. 
Margrietje, bap. Jan. 10, 1742. Wits.: Joh^ van 

Norden and Adriana Webbers his wife. 
Margarita, bap. March 30, 1746. Wits.: Cornelis 
Webbers and Jacomijntje van Norden, j. d. 
Johannes, bap. Dec. 6, 1707. Wits.: Cornelis Stille and 
Jannetje Stille, his young daughter; m. Anna van 
Norden April 2, 1731. Issue: 

Olfert^ (Oliver), bap. Aug. 8, 1731. Wits.: Wolfert 
Webbers and Grietje his wife. He m. Ann 
Borrens (Burns) Oct. 30, 1762 and had Olfert, ^ 
bap. June 24, 1764. Wits.: Michael Keets and 
Trijntje Webbers his wife. 
Jacomijntje bap. Apr. 29, 1733. Wits.: Aamoudt 

Webbers and Hester van Orden. 
Jacomijntje II, bap. Dec. 29, 1734. Wits.: Jo- 
hannes Hoppe and Maria van Orden, his wife. 
Margriete, bap. May i, 1737. Wits.: Jacob Web- 
bers, j. m. (young man) and Aeltje Webbers, 
j. d. She was unm. in 1759, at which date 
her brother and sisters were dead as were her 
parents. 
Cornelus, bap. Apr. 10, 17 10. Wits.: Cornelus Webbers 
and Rachel Webber, m. (i) March 17, 1732 Cornelia 
Waldron of Nieu Haerlem, widow of Rijk Lent of 
Westchester, whom she m. Nov. 12, 1722 and had 
Samuel, 5 bap. June 2, 1734. Wits.: Samuel Waldron, 
Junior and Cornelia La Maetere, j. d. He m. (2) Anna 
Sighels (Sickels) both from the Bouwery but living 
here (the city) Jan. 11, 1747. No issue of record. 
His will dated Apr. 17, 1794, proved same year, 
(L. 41, 308) mentions sons Isaac ^ and Casparus. 
Aaltje, bap. Dec. 10, 1712. Wits.: Jacob Coning and 

Dievertje Kwakenbos; m. Elbert Somerindijck. 
Isaac, bap. July 24, 1715. Wits.: Hendrik Ellesse and 
Janneke Pears; m. Grietje Woertendijck. 



152 ZTbe IRew ^ovU of IJesterba^ 

Lea, bap. March 23, 1718. Wits, : Benjamin Quackenbos 
and Claasje Webber his wife. 

Arnoult^ Webber, m. (2) March 14, 1675, Jannetje Cor- 
nelis, j. d. of N. Y. Issue: 

Cornelis,^ bap. March 18, 1676. Wits.: Laurens 

van der Spiegel and Hester Webber; d. young. 

Johannes, bap. June 26, 1678. Wits.: Jacob Cor- 

neHszen and Willemtie Elberts. 
Claesje, bap. Nov. 17, 1680. Wits.: Theunis Cor- 

neHszen and Hester Webbers. 
Cornelis II., bap. Aug. 28, 1683. Wits.: Ariaen 
CorneHszen and Lijsbeth van der Spiegel; d. 
young. 
Sara, bap. Aug. 9, 1685. Wits.: Coenraedt ten 
Eijck and Geertie Hassing; m. May 12, 1706 
Seijbrand Brouwer. 
Rachel and Helena, twins, bap. Feb. 12, 1688. 
Wits. : Johannes van der Spiegel and Sara van 
der Spiegel, Jacob CorneHszen and Leentie 
Cornelis. Rachel m. (i) Aug. 18, 1709 William 
Swansten, m. (2) Apr. 11, 17 13, John Ho6rn of 
Kingstown. She of the "Grotekil. " 
Cornelis III., bap. Feb. 19, 1693. Wits.: Hendrick 
CorneHszen and Anna Claes; m. June 5, 17 19, 
Rachel Pears, j. d. of N. Y. Issue: 

Aarnout,* bap. March 16, 1720. Wits.: 
Wolphert Webber and Jannetje his 
wife. 
Willem, bap. Jan. 27, 1723. Wits.: Elias 
ElHs and Sara Ellis his wife; m. Oct. 
I, 1764, Dorothy Fennaly. 
Aernout II., bap. Oct. 11, 1724. Wits.: 
Benjamin Quackenbos and Claasje 
Quackenbos his wife. 
Philip, the quondam deacon, was the seventh 
child of his parents. His baptism is not recorded 



Z\)c jflret Conslstori? 153 

in the Dutch Church Records which end at 1800. A 
small part of the land alienated by his grandfather 
in 1759 returned to the family name in 1792 when the 
deacon purchased a strip on the west side of Bloom- 
ingdale Road lying between 47th and 49th Streets and 
extending nearly to Tenth Avenue. On the block 
between 48th and 49th Streets west of Seventh Avenue 
he constructed his home and reared his family. No 
view of this house has been found. It was here, 
however, that he lived during part of the time of his 
diaconate, and here the Consistory met on occasion. 
His first appearance in the Directory was in 1828-9 
when his business was at 13 Washington Street and 
his residence 175 Elizabeth Street. In 1 830-1 he was 
at 266 Mott Street. 

By his wife, Elizabeth Reis, he had, according to the 
records of the original Dutch Church : 

Magdalana, ^ b. Jan. 19, bap. Feb. 13, 1785. Wits. : Thomas 

Warner and Magdalane Warner. She m. (i) 

Mildeberger, and was joined (2) to William Waite by 
Doctor Gunn, Feb. 23, 1809, in presence of her brother- 
in-law Jonathan Hardman and General Striker. These 
children were baptised by Doctor Gunn: 
William,^ b. May 22, bap. Aug. 18, 1811. 
George, b. June 23, bap. Aug. 22, 1813. 
John, b. Oct. 31, 1814, bap. Oct. 10, 1815. 
Aletta (Letitia), b. Feb. 11, bap. Mar. 11, 1787. Wit.: 
Aletta Webbers. 
She was married at the Church to Samuel A. 
Savage, Oct. 23, 181 1 having joined the communion 
Mar. 29, 1 810. They had one child baptized by 
Doctor Gunn: 

Joseph Windham, b. Aug. 5, and bap, Dec. 
7, 1 81 2, whose father was baptized April 
30, 1825. 



154 ^be IRew 13ork of IJeaterDa^ 

Elizabeth, b. Aug. 30, bap. Oct. 27, 1789, m. Francis 
Sowery, May 10, 1810, by Doctor Gunn. 

Hannah, b. Mar. 12, bap. April i, 1792. She 
married Henry Hughes and had two children 
baptized by Doctor Gunn: Letitia, b. June 12, 
1808, bap. Sept. 24, 1809, and Mary, bap. June 
30, 1811. 

Susannah, b, Jtily 25, bap. Aug. 14, 1796. Wits.: 
Henry and Susannah Sigonier. She joined the 
Church, Mar. 29, 1810, and d. in April, 1823. 

William, b. Feb. 16, bap. Mar. 16, 1800. 

Besides the above children Philip had the following, 
the birth and baptism of which are not recorded in 
the above authorities, viz.: 

Sarah, became a member Nov. 30, 1809, on con- 
fession. She married Jonathan Hardman and 
these of their children were baptized by Doctor 
Gunn: 

Lawrence H., b. Nov. 7, 1806, bap. Jan. 18, 

1807. 
Aaron, b. Mar. 11, bap. April 6, 1809. 
Henry, b. Nov. 23, 1811, bap. Mar. i, 1812. 
Jonathan, b. May — , i8i4,bap. Oct. 10, 1815. 
Elizabeth, b. Nov. 31, 1816, bap. Aug. 21, 
1817. 
Catharine. By her husband William Stratton, she 
had, baptized by Doctor Gunn: 

Catharine, b July 30, bap. Aug. 31, 1806. 
Sarah, b. Aug. 3, bap. Aug, 28, 1808. 
William Waite, b. Mar. 15, bap. May 7, 
1810. 
John, m. Margaret Ford. Their son Philip was b. 
May 22, 1807, and bap. by Doctor Gunn Sept. 3, 
1808. He died in 1825. 
Frances, m. John Vidal. 



Zbc iflret Conslatori? 155 

Maria, m. Chas. Whitmore Smith after 1825, and 
appears as a witness to a marriage May 12, 
1 83 1. She d. Nov. 29, 1834, leaving an infant 
child. 

Philip Webbers and his wife conveyed small portions 
of the above-mentioned land to various parties. In 
1 80 1 a plot was deeded to Esther Gomez, which she 
conveyed to Isaac Leggett three years later. In 1807 
he gave a plot on the west side of the Bloomingdale 
Road at the northwest corner of 47th Street to Jona- 
than Hardman. In 18 19 another portion was con- 
veyed to Stratton, in 1820 one to Savage, and the 
next year one to Waite. After deeding a lot to his 
daughter Catharine Stratton in 1825, he, his wife being 
dead, conveyed the residue of the tract to his heirs, 
Apr. 12, 1825 (L. 191 of Conv., p. i) to wit: Sarah 
Hardman, Letty Savage, Catharine Stratton, Margaret 
Waite, Elizabeth Sowery, Frances Vidal, Maria Web- 
bers, Margaret widow of John Webbers, and Letty 
Hughes a granddaughter, on condition that if the latter 
" shall be intermarried and have a husband now living, 
then all the estate to her hereby granted shall cease, 
determine, and be utterly null and void. " The "mes- 
suage" on which the grantor resided and then dwelt 
was included. He reserved a life estate for himself 
and wife should he remarry, and provided that at his 
death the premises be divided into nine equal parts 
which shall be drawn for by the respective parties. 
The deacon died March 25, 1830, says the abstract of 
title and, Oct. 30, 1832, according to Do. van Aken, 
without having married again, and the grantees 
divided the property thus vested by deeds to each, 
which are duly recorded. 

Webbers became a deacon at the foimding of the 



156 JLbc IRew l^orft of IJesterbai? 

Church. The Consistory met at his residence for the 
first time Oct. 12, 1808. After a service of nearly 
three years he tendered his resignation, which, " after 
much serious consideration" was not accepted. For 
another three years he held office, but at the session 
of Oct. 17, 1814, which assembled at Deacon Harsen's, 
it was whispered that he had connected himself with 
a church of another denomination. The proceedings 
taken by the Board because of this action will be 
detailed elsewhere. Suffice it to say here that he 
died in the faith of his ancestors. 




Portrait and signature of Rev. John H. Livingston, D.D., LL.D., from the 
Memoirs of Dr. Livitigston, iSag, by the Rev. Alexander Gunn, D.D. 



V 

Zbc Cburcb at IbarsenvtUc 

1805-1855 

Qn the September evening hereinbefore mentioned, 
certain members of the Dutch Reformed Church sat 
around the hearth in Jacob Harsen's quaint old Dutch 
mansion and piled up the logs. That noted Domine 
of the Collegiate Church, the Rev. John H. Livingston, 
D.D., was present as were also Mr. Harsen, Andrew 
Hopper, Philip Webbers, and John Asten. After 
prayer, the minister called the little company to order 
and was elected Moderator. The Doctor was in his 
sixtieth year at the time and his praise was in aU the 
churches, but particularly in that branch thereof 
known as the Reformed Dutch. He was first in her 
councils, first in her honors, and first in her affections. 
It came to be considered the Doctor's prerogative to 
be present on such occasions as this and at the laying 
of the comer-stone of a new edifice or the opening of 
a new church for public worship. For a series of years 
when either of these functions was to be done in any 
part of the city, or in any place at a moderate distance 
therefrom, he was requested, in deference to his prom- 
inence and seniority in the ministry, to perform the 
service. It may be questioned whether any con- 
temporary clergyman in the United States, except 

157 



158 Zhe flew Borl; of ^cetevt>a^ 

a diocesan, had the honor of laying more comer-stones 
and opening a greater number of ecclesiastical build- 
ings than he. Born in Poughkeepsie May 30, 1746, and 
educated for the ministry at the University of Utrecht 
in Holland, he was called to the pastoral office of the 
Reformed Church in New York in 1770 and elected 
to the presidency of Queens College, New Jersey, 18 10. 
After his decease Jan. 20, 1825, in the fifty-fifth year 
of his ministry and the forty-first of his professional 
labors, the General Synod of the Church at New Bruns- 
wick erected a monumental stone "in token of their 
gratitude for his services and veneration for his mem- 
ory" (N. J. Archives, vol. xxi., p. 318). It will be 
recognized that the infant organization at Harsenville 
could not have been started under better auspices. ^ 

1 " Rev. Dr. Livingston was in the fullest sense a man of the Old 
School, not only in doctrine, but in manners, in mode of life, and 
even in dress. He walked the streets erect as a grenadier on 
parade, his gold-headed cane carried upright before him like the 
mace of a magistrate, his spacious and broad-brimmed hat sur- 
mounting the white wig which spread its curls upon his shoulders, 
the ample square skirts of his coat falling below his knees and his 
shoe-buckles glittering on his feet as though the dust did not dare 
to soil them. Such a figure was not to be passed by without at- 
tention and reverence. In politeness of manners he had no su- 
perior; indeed he carried its forms to the extreme limit. He would 
always have the last bow to his acquaintances, whether parting 
from them at his own house or theirs. In a playful humor, some 
of his clerical brethren occasionally tried how far the good Doctor 
would carry this habit, but they invariably had to give up the 
struggle ; for, let them follow the polite old gentleman far as they 
would and bowing at every step, he would still have the last bow. 
He was as much unlike others in the pulpit as in the street or draw- 
ing-room. While the essential doctrines of the Gospel that know 
no change form the great staple of his discourses, he enunciated 
them in a manner that constantly reminded you of generations 
gone by; of the fathers whose works you had read but whose faces 
you had never seen. He seemed in no way inclined to belong to 
the present generation. But whatever may have been his error 
in this respect he was eminently a good man, a sound, impressive 



Zbc Cburcb at Ibarsenvllle 159 

At this first meeting of the neighbors, the religious 
needs of the community were discussed and the Church 
formally gathered. Andrew Hopper and James Striker 
became the first elders and Jacob Harsen and Philip 
Webbers the deacons. So stood the first Consistory. 
The minutes of the Board are intact. A reminiscence 
of old-time methods is presented while handling them. 
The sand with which the wet ink was sprinkled still 
adheres in places to the writing. Under date of Oct. 
20, 1805, it is noted that Dr. Livingston had preached 
a sermon appropriate to the occasion from Rom. iii., 31, 
and had ordained the persons before elected to fill 
the above offices, whereupon business was proceeded 
with. Hopper was chosen Moderator and it was 
decided that regular meetings be held the first day 
of every month "until a minister be settled among 
them." On Apr. i, 1806, Hopper was delegated to 
represent the Church in the Classis, and on July i was 
appointed Treasurer. It is not stated where the 
Consistory met for these early sessions; doubtless at 
the Harsen mansion. On September 6th a formal 
agreement was executed by these four individuals 
and a name, 

The Church at Harsenville, 

was given to the embryo congregation (L. i Incorp. 
Religious Denoms., p. 46; vide Appendix B). On the 
1 6th the Board assembled at Striker's Bay and here 
a definite call was made to the Rev. David Schuyler 
Bogart. After graduating at Columbia College in 
1790, he studied theology under Livingston, to whom 

minister of the Gospel. He retained to the last much of the costume 
and many of the habits which belong to the clergy of his early days." 
— Recollections of Persons and Events, J. M. Matthews, D.D., 
1865. 



i6o ^be IRew IPork of l^eeterba^ 

the call was perhaps due. He was a zealous student 
and an uncompromising advocate of the truth. His 
facility of diction and graceful and impressive oratory 
were well known, as was his cheerful, kind, generous, 
bland, and affable disposition. To these qualities of 
heart and intellect he united a memory of surprising 
vigor and tenacity, from whose rich stores his friends 
derived instruction and gratification ever new and 
interesting. Corwin's Manual says he was pastor at 
Bloomingdale 1806-7. Possibly he preached there 
during that period, but no mention thereof in the 
minutes is to be found. He seems to have been just 
the man to start the Church on its pilgrimage. Un- 
fortunately he refused the call and remained under the 
Southampton, L. I., Presbytery, where he had been 
since 1796. 

Harsen having in the interim constructed a church 
edifice, which had been consecrated by Dr. Livingston 
the last Sabbath in June, 1805, conveyed it Nov. 3, 
1806, together with the premises described below, to 
Striker, Hopper, and Webbers, or "the congregation 
at the place or neighborhood in the Ninth Ward by 
the name of Harsenville, " to wit: 

all that certain church or building and piece of ground on 
the westerly side of the Bloomingdale Road beginning 40 
feet from the line which divides the land of the said Jacob 
Harsen and the heirs of John Somerindyke and running 
from thence 55 feet along the said Bloomingdale Road and 
from thence towards the land of the heirs of the said John 
Somerindyke 35 feet till it comes exactly 35 feet from 
the line which divides the land of the said Jacob Harsen 
from that of the heirs of the said John Somerindyke, and 
from thence on a direct line 80 feet to the place of beginning, 
leaving a piece of ground between the land of the said 



Zl)c Cburcb at Ibarsenvtlle i6i 

heirs and that hereby granted 40 feet in front on the said 
Road and 30 feet in the rear, according to a plan or draft 
which is hereby annexed. 

This plan, however, was not included (L. 74 Conv., 
178) when the deed was recorded March 13, 1807, "at 
the request of Mr. Andrew Hopper. " We should have 
doubtless known the size and exact spot where the 
original church stood. 

This resolution was passed Oct. 12, 1808, at the house 
of Webbers: 

That the thanks of this Consistory be presented to Mr. 
Jacob Harsen for his pious and benevolent gift of the 
church and the ground belonging to it — ^with fervent prayer 
that he may have the satisfaction to see the Church prosper 
while he lives and be at last rewarded with "well done, 
good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy 
Lord. " 

No view has been preserved of this First House of 
Worship. 

Another call, equally abortive, proceeded from the 
Harsen house, June 16, 1807. Rev, Stephen N. 
Rowan, a graduate of Union College, had lately been 
licensed (1806), His commanding intellect and sound 
common sense, united to his very reHgious inclina- 
tions from the age of six years, would have been 
of material assistance at this stage. He preferred, 
however, to stay with the Church at Greenwich Village. 
In 18 19 he founded the Eighth Presbyterian Chtirch 
in Christopher Street. 

Zbc jpfrst /Bbfnistec 

Two years, eight months, and twelve days were 
passed before the congregation succeeded in settling a 
pastor. Ministers were shy in those days, says Dr. 



i62 ZTbe IRew ©orft ot l?e0tert)a^ 

Martyn, in his History of Eighty Years, to which we are 
indebted, but pulpits in and around New York do not 
go a-begging any more. At the Harsen mansion on 
May 21, 1808, a call was made out upon the Rev. 
Alexander Gimn, and ratified in the presence of the 
Rev. Peter Low, Moderator. An annual compensa- 
tion of £s2o was offered. Mr. Gunn was also a college 
man (Columbia) and had just been licensed by the 
Presbytery. Brought up in the Presbyterian faith he 
was led to join the Dutch Church and accept this call 
in order to be settled near his widowed mother. From 
the early age of thirteen, when he conducted family 
prayers, his inclinations had a religious trend. This 
led him to undertake the preparation for the ministry, 
for which he studied under Dr. Kolloch of Princeton 
and Dr. Rodgers of this city. He proved to be just 
the man for the place and was worth waiting for. Then 
in his twenty-third year, he passed his life of twenty- 
one years in the ministry with this Church. His highly 
cultivated mind and lively imagination placed him 
among the best and most popular preachers in New 
York. He was a powerful theological controversialist, 
to which were added ease and dignity of manner. His 
gentlemanly deportment was such that the term 
Chesterfieldian attached itself to him. The College 
of New Jersey (Princeton) conferred upon him the 
degree of A.M. in 1805, to which was added in 1817 
that of S.T.D. by Allegheny College. With it all it 
is related that from the start he nested low among his 
people, made himself one of them, and was easily 
their leader in good words and works. During his 
ministry he wrote under the pseudonym of "Clericus" 
and was selected by the General Synod to compose 
The Memoirs of Dr. Livingston, a formidable volume 




Portrait and signature of Rev. Alexander Gunn, D.D., by courtesy of 

Thomas J. Burton, Esq. 

" The actual originator of the present ' University of the City of New York' 

was, undoubtedly, the late Rev. Dr. Alexander Gunn, of 

Bloomingdale."— George W. Bethune, D.D. (1855). 



Zhc Cburcb at Ibarscnvtlle 163 

of 540 pp., which was published in 1829. Such data 
concerning the latter personage as appear above 
are culled therefrom and the accompanying portrait 
adorned its pages. 

The edifice erected by Harsen stood on the west 
side of the Road between present 69th and 70th 
Streets, now the site of the Nevada apartment house. 
It was a small frame building painted white, and had 
a cupola shaped Hke an umbrella. The sounding- 
board over the pulpit rested at such an angle as to 
impress some of the attendants with the notion that 
it was in danger of falling and crushing the preacher. 
Occasional services had been held there prior to the 
coming of Mr. Gimn, and Lawrence Lawrence had 
been selected July i, 1806, to lead the singing, which 
he pitched with a tuning-fork, any mechanical in- 
strument being thought an invention of the devil. 
Heating was accomplished by means of a stove which 
the Consistory on Dec. i, 1808, ordered to be purchased. 
What primitive days were these! Wood for fuel, 
candles and stands for light, and a table on which to 
place them, served the purpose, for other means were 
not at hand. The building was so small that Harsen 
and Striker, who had been appointed therefor, re- 
ported at this session that they had waited on Mr. 
Barnewell and obtained a room of him in which to hold 
societies and social meetings during the winter. Mrs. 
Sarah Gunn, the wife of the pastor, tendered her certifi- 
cate of dismission from the Presbyterian Church and 
was received into this communion. The Westminster 
shorter catechism was introduced for use among the 
smaller children. The state of religion in the con- 
gregation at this time (Jan., 1809) was of so favorable 
a nature as to be highly gratifying. 



i64 ^be IRew Borft of ©csterbai? 

At the meeting on the first day of the next month, 
Striker was appointed to accompany the pastor on 
his ministerial visits during the ensuing year, and 
subscriptions towards the building of a parsonage 
were undertaken. The regular meeting in March was 
held at the house of Webbers, when Striker re- 
ported that $255 had been collected for the enterprise. 
A day — the first Sabbath in April — was set for the 
administration of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. 
John Barlow and Hannah his wife presented certificates 
from the Rev. Sol. Fraligh, Pastor of the Church at 
Hackensack. Mrs. Martha Hoffman made confession 
of faith, as did Miss Ann Striker, at a session at Har- 
sen's later in the month. Robert Wade, a member of 
Christ's Church, New York, was present and proceeded 
to make confession, whereupon he also was received. 
These names are the first mentioned as having joined 
the fellowship. 

The initial meeting at the minister's residence took 
place on April 3d. Striker annoimced that he and 
Harsen had obtained $1280 in subscriptions. Web- 
bers observed that John Hopper the Younger would 
present half an acre on the Bloomingdale Road and 
that John Horn had indirectly offered land in Hopper's 
Lane, on which to build the parsonage. Hopper was 
an elder brother of Andrew, and the father-in-law of 
Striker. He had married Wyntje, daughter of Nicholas 
Dyckman who lived in the Dyckman- Harsen mansion 
at Harsenville, and she removed to the homestead 
on Hopper's Lane at her marriage, April 21, 1759. 
At his death, in 18 19, the family plot at 50th Street 
and Ninth Avenue claimed his remains. The Hopper 
brothers and their sister Jacomijntje Horn drew speci- 
fic portions of their father's farm {zdde "Hopper Farm," 



ZTbe Cburcb at IbarsenvUlc 165 

page 8) under the will, and it was a portion thereof 
which they wished to alienate in favor of the Church. 
It was thought expedient to accept one of these offers, 
whereupon Harsen arose and proposed the acceptance 
of a gift from him of an acre on the Harsenville road, 
with the liberty of the choice of any one of ten acres 
thought the most eligible. "After considerable de- 
bate," continue the minutes, "this offer was accepted 
and the Consistory agreed to meet at Mr. Harsen's 
house on Wednesday afternoon for the purpose of 
looking at the ground and choosing a suitable spot." 
Thereupon Hopper, Striker, and Harsen were appointed 
a committee invested with full power to contract for 
the construction of the building upon such plan as to 
them should seem most economical and advantageous. 
By the meeting in May, the subscriptions therefor 
had increased to $1400, and it was there stated 
that the site had been selected, certain material had 
been purchased, and cellar stone had been hauled to 
the location. Garret H. Striker, the Elder's oldest 
son, was appointed collector, and two services in the 
church to continue through the summer season were 
determined on. 

In June it was announced that a stable had been 
erected on the parsonage property. Harsen stated 
that the ground was being surveyed and the deed 
drawn. It was agreed that the children should be 
catechised every Wednesday afternoon in the church. 
How interdependent the community and the con- 
gregation were is shown by the resolution passed to 
request the schoolmasters to omit school on that 
afternoon. At the September meeting, the stated 
sessions of the body were slated for the first Monday 
in each month thereafter at 4 o'clock, and on the 



1 66 ZTbe Tlew IPorft of J^esterbai? 

1 8th of that month the unoccupied pews were to be 
rented, due notice of which event was to be announced 
from the pulpit. Harsen was authorized to provide 
a place in which to hold religious and social meetings 
during the coming winter. The back room at Bame- 
well's was again taken for this purpose, with the pro- 
viso that no carriages enter the yard. 

After the admission to membership of Jane Cozine 
(widow Ackerman) , Rachel Cozine, and Sarah Webbers, 
wife of Jonathan Hardman, in November, it was 
entered that the Consistory "bless the Lord for what 
He has already done for His little flock in this place 
and pray for greater out-pourings of His Spirit upon 
the congregation." The question as to what the 
charter of the Church required to be done to preserve 
its legality had been referred to Isaac L. Kip, Stated 
Clerk. It was reported at this meeting that it was 
necessary to make a return of the state of its finances 
to the Legislature every second year. The first sexton, 
Isaac Dey, was engaged in December at ;^3 per annum. 
On account of the shortness of the days and the cold- 
ness of the weather it was agreed to postpone further 
work on the parsonage. 

The new year (1810) opened with a regular meeting 
at Hopper's residence. Nothing of moment transpired. 
In March, work on the parsonage was resumed. It 
was announced that $1900 had been expended thereon 
to date and that $250 additional was needed. The 
work would be completed by the middle of June. 
The Consistory met at the " Society Room. " Prepara- 
tions for a garden on the grounds were ordered. Mr. 
Gunn stated on April 5 th that he had received an ap- 
pointment to proceed to Canada in the interest of the 
Committee on Missions and requested the opinion of 



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MAP OF THE "PARSONAGE ACRE," FROM LIBER 85 OF CONVEYANCES, 521 



Z\)e Cburcb at Ibareenville 167 

the body thereon. A vacation of three months was 
granted and part of a collection for the benefit of the 
Church was donated toward his expenses. A horse 
for the accommodation of the ministers who should 
supply the pulpit during his absence would be pro- 
vided. It was agreed that the Lord's Supper should 
be administered quarterly thereafter instead of three 
times as theretofore. On December 4th, Harsen an- 
nounced that during the spring he had deposited with 
Striker, the Clerk of Consistory, the deed of the par- 
sonage ground duly recorded. This instrument bore 
date of Sept. 16, 1809, the parties thereto being Jacob 
Harsen of the Ninth Ward, Gentleman, and the Trustees 
of the Reformed Dutch Church at Harsenville re- 
spectively and conveyed realty by this description, 
viz.: 

Bounded on land of Lemuel Wells, on land of the 
said Harsen and on Harsen Street, containing in 
breadth 100 feet and in length on the northerly side 
531.4 feet and on the southerly side 523.9 feet, reserving 
and excepting out of this present grant the ground set 
apart for streets and as appears noted or dotted upon 
the said annexed map, upon condition that said tract 
of land nor any part thereof shall at no time nor in 
any way nor at any time hereafter be sold nor in any 
wise be disposed of by any ways or means or under any 
pretence whatsoever, but that the same shall always 
and forever be and remain for the use, benefit, and 
income of the said Reformed Dutch Church at Harsen- 
ville, and also upon condition that said Church enclose 
the land in fence (L. 85 Conv., 5 21). 

In March, 181 1, Holmes declined leading the singing 
for a longer term and Wade was appointed to that 
office. As he was found unable to give punctual 



1 68 n:be 1Rew IPorfi of IPeetertJa^ 

attendance, another was engaged three months later 
to officiate as chorister. Striker was selected in 
April to attend at the pastor's residence on the Thurs- 
day preceding the administration of the Lord's Supper 
to hear the confessions of such as may apply for ad- 
mission into the communion. A commission from 
Brunswick came to the pastor in June necessitating 
his absence for a few weeks in order to discharge the 
duties imposed thereby, and in August Webbers sub- 
mitted his resignation as deacon, which, after serious 
consideration, was not accepted. In October it was 
ordered that the afternoon service be dropped on the 
first Sabbath in November and that in its stead an 
evening meeting be held alternately in the Church 
"and the lower part of the congregation." It should 
be recalled that the streets were not lighted at this 
time and the above resolution was passed in order to 
enable members to attend service with less incon- 
venience. On these occasions the congregation met 
at the residences of communicants in the fifties, some- 
times at Hopper's, again at Webbers's, at Horn's at 
51st Street and the Road, or at the Cozine house at 
present Eighth Avenue near 54th Street. Hopper 
and Harsen were to make provision for these meetings. 
In November the place of evening meetings "in the 
upper part of the congregation" was changed from 
the Church to "Mr. Harsen's room above Tyson's 
shop." 

Some little debt having remained after the building 
of the stable and the parsonage. Striker and Harsen 
in February, 181 2, were deputized to accompany the 
pastor in soliciting donations to liquidate the burden. 
In April it was resolved to offer Mr. Ufiord, the prin- 
cipal of the Bloomingdale Academy, a pew for the use 




TIIK Ol.l) !'AUS()N.\(;i 



THE ORIGINAL PARSONAGE 
73d Street, near Columbus Avenue ; from The History of Eighty Years 



Zbc Cburcb at Ibarsenville 169 

of his family if he would lead the singing. ' ' The 
abuses of the Sabbath day" in the neighborhood 
became so open that it was suggested some exertion be 
made to ameliorate the conditions. On second thought, 
however, it seemed imprudent to interfere. A request 
was made to the Moderator to "exhort" at funerals. 
He preferred to act at his own discretion on such oc- 
casions, according to the circumstances which might 
exist at any particular time. An additional sum, 
subscribed by Messrs. Harsen, Striker, Lemuel Wells, 
James Boggs, Gerard W. Livingston, and Dr. John 
G. Adams, was added to the pastor's salary in June. 
Wm. B. Holmes was appointed collector. Under the 
article of the constitution requiring an inquiry to be 
made into the walk and conversation of members, a 
number of cases were investigated during the year 
1 8 13. These arose because of non-attendance at 
Church, of irregular attendance at communion, and 
of intoxication. Some of these individuals were sus- 
pended. A generous donation was received from the 
Collegiate Consistory and a letter of thanks was pre- 
pared and forwarded by the pastor and Harsen. In 
February, 1814, Striker and Harsen were appointed 
to ascertain what alteration could be made for the 
better accommodation of communicants on sacra- 
mental occasions, and to make such changes as they 
deemed advisable. In April it was announced that 
the alteration undertaken in front of the pulpit had 
been made. Samuel Adams Lawrence became a 
member in February and had tendered his assistance 
in collecting subscriptions for a new House of Worship. 
The following resolutions in this connection were 
passed on April 29th: 

Whereas, it is the earnest wish of this Consistory to 



I70 Zbe 1Rew ^ovk of IPesterba^ 

promote, as far as may be in their power, the precious 
interests of the Gospel in this place, and whereas they 
believe that a new and larger building than the one in 
which Public Worship is at present performed, would 
contribute to that object. 

Resolved that the Rev. Alex. Gunn, our Pastor, and Mr. 
Samuel Lawrence be and they hereby are appointed a com- 
mittee, in our name, to solicit subscriptions of the members 
of our own congregation and the friends of the Redeemer 
of all denominations to whom they may think proper to 
apply for the purpose of building a new church to belong 
to this Consistory and our successors. 

Resolved further that the Committee be and they hereby 
are authorized to proceed to the building and enclosing of 
the church when they shall have obtained subscriptions to 
the amount of $3000. They are also authorized to select 
a situation for the Church provided it be not far one way 
or the other from the present church, and provided also 
that the building and premises belong to the Consistory 
of the Reformed Dutch Church of Bloomingdale and their 
successors. 

At the meeting in May it was announced that the 
amount above specified had been obtained, and it was 
recommended that an address be sent to the Con- 
sistory in town soliciting a donation. Striker and 
Harsen, having already conversed with members of 
that body, were appointed to draft and forward 
the address. A building committee was thereupon 
appointed. Harsen of that committee stated on July 
19th that he had contracted with James Westerfield 
for the mason work for $5300, and with King and 
Hoogland for the carpentering for $4500, making 
$9800. The plan of the Church was then presented. 
From Hardie's Description of New York, 1827, we 
learn that its size was 57 x 72, containing 4104 square 



Zbc (Tburcb at IbareenvlUe 171 

feet. The Collegiate Consistory resolved on June i6th, 
in consideration of the application of the Church for 
aid in building the new edifice, to donate therefor 
$2500. On August ist a copy of this resolution was 
presented and the Board voted to "most gratefully 
accept of the donation which their Brethren have been 
pleased to make them, on the conditions mentioned 
in said resolutions, and that Mr. Gunn and Mr. Harsen 
be a committee to prepare and deliver to the Con- 
sistory of the Reformed Dutch Church of New 
York, a letter of thanks for their generous donation." 
Although the Constitution provided for the election of 
officers every two years, it was not until August nth — 
a matter of nine years and nine months — that action 
was taken, at which time it was decided to add two 
more to the number of the Consistory. When the 
ballots were counted Harsen was found elected Elder, 
and Henry Post and Samuel A. Lawrence, Deacons. 
The Consistory was consequently composed of 

Andrew Hopper, ^ 

James Striker, r Elders. 

Jacob Harsen, ) 

Philip Webbers, "\ 

Samuel A. Lawrence, [-Deacons. 

Henry Post, ) 

A report to the Legislature was ordered to be pre- 
pared and Post appointed Treasurer, vice Striker. 

The pastor and Lawrence, in carrying out the di- 
rections of the Board, selected property fronting on 
the Bloomingdale Road at present 68th Street, a part 
of the Somerindyke Farm which fell to the daughter 
Margaret, wife of Wm. A. Hardenbrook. The deed 
(L. 107, Conv. 632) thereof, bearing date Sept. 26, 
described the property as follows: 



172 Z\)c 1RCW ^ov\{ of ipeaterbai? 

Beginning at a point in the easterly side of the Bloom- 
ingdale Road, so called, where the same is intersected 
by the middle of Sixty-eighth Street, which point is 
distant westerly from the westerly side of the Ninth 
Avenue 469 feet and running thence along the middle 
of the said street easterly 163.65 feet, thence at right 
angles to the same northerly 130 feet, thence at right 
angles to the same westerly 236.35 feet to the easterly 
side of the Bloomingdale Road aforesaid and thence 
along the same southerly to the place of beginning. 

The consideration expressed was $596.00, with full 
covenants. This deed was received by the Consistory 
October 17th, and put in the Treasurer's hands for 
record. 

And now came a defection which cast a damper 
over the joy caused by the inauguration of the new 
enterprise. It came to the knowledge of the Consistory 
this month that their brother Webbers, since the last 
meeting, had attached himself to the Baptist Church 
in Gold Street, and had been baptised. This fact was 
deeply lamented and it was felt to be a duty, in a spirit 
of Christian love, to notice it. Accordingly their 
delegates to Classis were instructed to lay the case 
before that Reverend Body with the request that the 
seat of the brother as a deacon be vacated and that 
advice be given as to the proper course to pursue. 
The matter was not brought to their attention by the 
pastor and Harsen, the representatives to Classis, 
when they assembled the following morning in the 
Consistory Chamber in Garden Street (Exchange 
Place), because the Committee of Overtures were of 
the opinion that the local Board had power to act. 
On this announcement the delinquent's seat was 
vacated and he was suspended from the communion 



^be dburcb at Ibar^envUlc 173 

"until he shall manifest due repentance and renounce 
the errour he has embraced." A long period of time 
elapsed — fourteen years — before this hope was realized. 
Finally on March i8, 1828, notification was made that 
he "wished to return" and this minute was adopted: 

Philip Webbers, who in the year 18 14 embraced the 
errour of the Baptists and left this Church and his seat as 
an officer therein to connect himself with a Baptist Church 
in the city, having solicited to be received again into the 
fellowship of this church, 

Resolved that the suspension voted in the case of Mr. 
Webbers at the time he left us, be and is hereby removed 
and that he be restored to the enjoyment of his privileges as 
a member of this Church in good standing. 

Resolved that Mr. Webbers be asked at the next pre- 
paratory serv^ice, or sooner if he wishes it, if he freely and 
sincerely renounces the errour he had embraced and, upon 
his answering in the affirmative, that his restoration be 
publickly announced and that it be recommended to the 
members of the Church to receive and treat him as a 
brother who deeply laments his errour and is now sin- 
cerely desirous to live and die in the faith of the Reformed 
Protestant Dutch Church. 

Resolved that the Pastor and Mr. Harsen be a committee 
to inform Mr. Webbers of the proceedings of Consistory. 

As a matter of historic interest it should be stated 
that the "Gold Street Meeting House" was constituted 
June 19, 1762, and was the first Baptist Church in New 
York City. Elder John Gano of Huguenot descent 
was the first pastor. The edifice was turned into a 
stable for British cavalry during the Revolutionary 
struggle. In 1802 a new building was erected on 
the same site. The Rev. William Parkinson, A.M., 
from Fredericktown, Maryland, became minister Feb. 8, 



174 TTbe IRew l?orft of IJeeterbai? 

1805, and held that position for thirty-five years. He 
resigned in 1840. 

Caspar Meier was elected deacon in the place of 
Webbers, which office, by the way, he declined to 
accept at this time. 

The Mercantile Advertiser of July 23, 181 4 an- 
nounced that ' ' The comer stone of a Reformed Dutch 
Church was laid at Bloomingdale on [Thursday] the 
2ist inst., by the Rev. Alexander Gunn. " 

Through a misunderstanding or otherwise the new 
site of the Church did not prove an immediate blessing 
— instead it became the cause of manifold vexations. 
The committee appointed to examine the records — 
and why it was not done before payment was made 
surpasses comprehension — reported in November that 
a mortgage of $2400.00 had been found thereon. 
Lawrence and Post were thereupon deputed to wait 
on the grantor primed with the queries : Had it been 
cancelled and if not. What arrangement could be 
effected to extricate the property from the incum- 
brance? In January, 181 5, it is noted that this in- 
terview was far from satisfactory. Hardenbrook's 
property was ascertained to be weighted with an in- 
cubus of $5300.00. A staggering blow indeed. What was 
worse no arrangement could be made. In this situa- 
tion it was finally agreed that a joint bond of Harsen, 
Striker, Hopper, Post, and Lawrence should be executed 
secured by a consistorial bond, pledging all the prop- 
erty of the Church, on which to raise sufficient money 
to purchase the mortgage, which covered twelve and 
one half acres of land and included the new site, the 
title to which latter plot should revert to the Con- 
sistory. The net proceeds of the sale of the mortgaged 
land should be appropriated to the payment of the 



^be Cburcb at IbarsenvlIIe 175 

joint bond and claim. The following day, two of the 
members were selected to wait on Mr. Dey, attorney 
for the mortgagee, Miss Eleanor Ellison, for further 
inquiry, and in February the questions asked and the 
answers thereto were read and proved satisfactory. 
The mortgaged lands other than the Church lot, were 
sold at auction — a quick turn showing a demand for 
village property — and on June 24th, statement thereof 
was rendered. Hardenbrook returned the three hun- 
dred dollars which had been paid down on the signing 
of the contract of purchase — a partial compensation 
for the annoyance he had caused. It appears from 
the above account that an actual deficiency of $528.00 
existed for which the Church must provide in order 
to indemnify the individual members and be released 
from their several claims upon it. So it turned out 
that eventually the new site cost $1124.00. 

The above mentioned members of the Consistory 
did, on the eleventh of September, release said Harden- 
brook from all personal liability and from all actions 
or causes of action for or on account of said deficiency 
"because there appeared to us but little prospect 
of recovering the sum without distressing his family, 
and for this reason we had agreed to hold the premises 
as our security for the whole amount due to us on 
said Bond and Indenture of Mortgage." He relin- 
quished his right to a pew in the new church. 

On January 5, 181 5, the building committee re- 
ported that the contractors had not completed the 
work according to the terms specified. This was viewed 
as a favorable circumstance inasmuch as adequate 
funds had not as yet been provided. The pastor 
stated that he and Striker had examined and received 
into the communion Ichabod Prall and Hannah 



176 tlbc flew l?ork of ^cetcv^w^ 

Thompson his wife. He was elected to fill Webbers' 
place on April nth. As a number of the members 
of the Haeriem congregation had frequently expressed 
a wish to be connected with the Church so far as to 
have a part of Mr. Gunn's services there, it was moved 
that a committee be appointed to endeavor to effect 
such an arrangement by conferring with that Con- 
sistory. Striker and Lawrence were selected. The 
Haeriem people proposed to give $500 for one half 
of the pastor's services and would consider whether 
they would not pay $600. From their conversation 
it appeared that they very favorably entertained the 
arrangement. Nothing seems to have come of this. 
At any rate no further reference is made to the subject. 
In the view (Frontispiece) of the new church edifice 
it will be noticed that a marble tablet is inserted over 
the main entrance. The pastor and Lawrence were 
appointed to carry into effect a resolution passed on 
May ist, which provided that the names of the present 
Consistory be inscribed thereon. The stone accordingly 
read: 

THE CHURCH AT HARSENVILLE 

Founded in 1805 

Rev. Alexander Gunn, Minister 

Andrew Hopper, ") Samuel A. Lawrence, "J 

James Striker, V Elders. Henry Post, >- Deacons. 

Jacob Harsen, ) Ichabod Prall, ) 

In July it was announced that the pastor had drawn 
the inscription and Lawrence had had it prepared. 
The Consistory met at Prall's residence in Greenwich 
Street, for the first time on June 14th. John Somerin- 
dyck, the original owner of the farm, having died 
Oct. II, 1790 left him surviving his widow Sarah, who 





Q/Qj^a/C 



Portrait and signature of Ichabod Prall, Esq., by courtesy of Miss Ida 

Benjamin 



Zbe Cburcl) at Ibarsenville 177 

released her dower in the plot on which the Church 
was being built. This conveyance was delivered to 
the Treasurer this date to be recorded. She did not 
die until July 2, 1830. Alderman Harsen was re- 
quested to ask Col. Harsen his son, the Treasurer of 
the School Fund, to advance $250 for the uses of the 
Consistory. Prall was added to the building com- 
mittee. The pastor, with Harsen and Lawrence, was 
appointed to draw up resolutions respecting the future 
sale of the pews and after retiring submitted the 
following : 

As it is but reasonable and right that this Church should 
pay for itself in the sales of the pews as other churches in 
the city have done, your committee beg leave to propose 
that this Consistory in the first place resolve, that when 
the Church is completed, the pews shall be so valued ac- 
cording to their situation and size as that they shall, when- 
ever they are all sold, bring, in the aggregate, as much as 
the Church shall have cost or thereabouts. In the second 
place that all pews which do not bring their valuation at 
the first auction, shall then or afterwards, as the Consistory 
may at the time determine, be sold for a term of years, not 
exceeding ten, at a certain price which they shall fix upon 
or at auction. 

Subscription papers were thereafter circulated bearing 
this caption : ' ' When the Church is built' the pews 
will be valued and sold at auction and every person's 
subscription will be credited as purchase money." 
The names of such subscribers as have been preserved 
follow : 



John Goodwin 


$25 


William Jauncey 


$25 


Daniel Mack 


25 


Samson Benson 


25 


Frederick Beinhauer 


25 


Wm. Rhinelander 


25 


Dr. Gamage 


25 


N. Prime 


25 



78 Z\)c t\ao l?orft of ^cBtcvbn^ 



William Paldwin (?) 


$25 


David Cargill 


$25 


Rich. Hanson 


10 


Hannah Lee 


5 


Com^ Ray 


20 


A. Forman 


10 


J. J. Diedericks 


ID 


Peter R. Post 


5 


T. A. Emmet 


10 


George McKay 


10 


C. McEvers 


10 


Samuel Van Verden, 




Henry S. Dodge 


30 


Bloomingdale 


15 


Nathan Sanford 


20 


Catherine Teller, Kip' 


s 


D. S. Jones 


10 


Bay 


15 


Alexander Hamilton 


10 


Benjamin Benson 


20 


John G. Brevoort 


20 


R. Riker 


30 


John G. Coster 


10 


Joel Bridge 


30 


Daniel D. Tompkins, 




Mrs. McAdams 


15 


Albany 


25 


William Ogden 


15 


P. G. Hildreth 


ID 


John Taylor 


20 


Nicholas Fish 


10 


James Boggs 


IS 


Joseph Houston 


10 


Henry McFarlan 


15 


Jno, H. Talman 


10 


Benjamin Desobry 


IS 


Henry Cheriot, Jr. 


5 


Clement C. Moore 


10 


Abrm. Brinckerhoff 


20 


Henry S. Williams 


IS 


Mary McCrea 


10 


Jacob Horn 


10 


Joshua Barker 


5 


Jno. Hegeman 


8 


B. Livingston 


25 


Nicholas Fish 


10 


Saml. Borrowe 


10 


WilHam Edgar 


10 


John Thompson, 




Naphtali Judah 


10 


203 Pearl Street 


10 


George Janeway 


20 


W. R. Stewart 


10 







The signatures of the above individuals are 
attached to the two lists now in existence. 

At different times during the year (181 5) some kind 
of an arrangement had been sought with the con- 
tractors whereby progress could be made on the church 
building. In September the minister and Lawrence 
undertook to see King in the hope of finishing the 
contract this season. On his expressing a willingness 
to complete the interior for the original estimate of 



Zbc Cburcb at IbareenvtIIc 179 

$2700 provided the portico and stoop were omitted, 
the Consistory agreed and such contract was entered 
into. The same committee was then authorized to 
deal with the master mason. It was reported in 
October that a front gallery and stairs could be added 
for an additional $400 and this was ordered. As to 
the mason work Westerfield suggested the matter be 
submitted to arbitration. The building committee 
agreed to meet them both at the site. Satisfactory 
settlement of the dispute was effected. An order for 
$61 against the Consistory, which Westerfield had 
delivered to Hardenbrook, was by him given to the 
Church, as an off-set in some measure to what had 
been lost through him. 

On Nov. 24th an extra session was called at Hopper's 
whereat Post presented a deed which he and the pastor 
had received from Mrs. Barbara Asten of two lots of 
groimd fronting both on Broadway and Mercer Street 
as a gift, the proceeds of which to be appropriated 
to the support of the Gospel in this place. This letter 
was thereupon drawn up and signed by the whole 
Consistory, and the pastor, accompanied by Post, 
requested to deliver it to Mr. and Mrs. Asten. 

Bloomingdale, Nov. 24th, 181 5. 
Dear Madam, 

We the Consistory of the Reformed Dutch Church at 
Bloomingdale, sensible of the benefit you have conferred 
on this infant Church, beg you to accept our most sincere 
thanks. The donation you have been pleased to bestow 
is a liberal one and will greatly aid us, we hope, in sup- 
porting the preaching of the Gospel among us, to which 
object we shall feel a pleasure in applying it according to 
your request. As the Lord has enabled and inclined you to 
devote a portion of your earthly substance for the promo- 
tion of the interests of this little Zion, He will, we trust, 



i8o TOe IRew IPorJ; of l?c6ter^a1^ 

abundantly reward you, — reward you with His blessing 
which maketh rich. You doubtless derive great satisfac- 
tion from the belief that you have done good, but this is 
but a small part of the reward of such noble benevolence. 
All who shall reap the benefit of your liberaUty as long as 
the Gospel shall be preached in this house of God will 
remember you with gratitude, and in a better world you 
will, we trust, receive an inheritance incorruptible, 
undefiled, and unfading. 

Madam, we sincerely bless you for this seasonable and 
liberal benefaction, and we hope it will be the means of 
inducing others to whom God has given the ability, to 
follow your laudable example. We earnestly pray that 
the Lord will be pleased to restore you to health and 
lengthen out your days that you may yet see for yourself 
the happy result of your charity. We deeply lament the 
unfavorable state of your health; but the great Physician 
of soul and body, we hope, will arrest your disorder, or if 
this should not be consistent with His righteous will, will 
give you that faith and love — those rich supports and 
substantial consolations of his grace which will enable you 
to bear its progress with resignation and patience, and 
finally, to meet death with joy and triumph. As a small 
token of our gratitude, we hereby present you with as 
much ground in the rear of our church as will be necessary 
for a vault if it is your wish to build one — and when you 
shall have finished your course, we will perpetuate the 
remembrance of your liberality to this church by inserting 
a stone with a suitable inscription upon it on the right 
side of the pulpit of the New Church. We commend you 
to Jesus, the hope and salvation of every penitent sinner. 
Dear Madam, with great respect, 

Your friends and Brethren in the Lord, 

Alexander Gunn, Pastor. 

The property was ordered surveyed and a committee 
appointed to lease it. 



ZTbe Cburcb at Ibarsent^llle 



i»i 



Stephen Jumel, the French merchant, had given a 
bell for the first church and this was still in use. In 
December, 1815, the sexton was directed to omit ring- 
ing it during the winter. Captain Newson made an 
offer of one for the new edifice in June of that year for 
which he was thanked, and Harsen and Lawrence were 
appointed to wait on him that he should be informed 
of the circumstances (what they were is not disclosed) , 
under which the Jumel bell was held. At the inter- 
view the Captain stated that he was very glad to have 
the opportunity of making the gift and it was accepted. 
In May, 181 6, now that the building was approaching 
completion, the above mentioned officers "tried" both 
bells and were of the opinion that either a selec- 
tion should be made or the material run into a new and 
larger one. Thereupon it was decided to hang the 
Jumel bell and get the consent of the Captain to dis- 
pose of his present for the benefit of the Church. The 
building committee was requested to confer with 
King and arrange to have it hung in the cupola. It 
was reported in June that the Captain was perfectly 
willing his bell should be made use of in any way the 
Consistory thought proper. Hopper and Daniel Mack, 
who had been elected to the diaconate in August, 181 6, 
were authorized April 7, 181 7, to make such dispo- 
sition. The highest offer was 15 cents a pound. It 
would be interesting to know what became of the 
Jumel bell. Captain Newson was doubtless Charles 
Newson, mariner, who appears in the City Directory 
of that period at 57 Pike St. 

Lawrence had made a contract with Westerfield and 
Berwick in January of $1700 for finishing the edifice. 
Collections for considerable amounts came to hand 
now. Hardly a session passed without such an an- 



1 82 Zbc IRew l?orft of 13e6ter^a^ 

nouncement. And they were needed. Notwithstand- 
ing urgent endeavors sufficient funds were not forth- 
coming. The Consistory had become involved to a 
considerable extent "in building the new church in 
this place" and endeavors had been made to arrange 
with the creditors that the necessity to sell the Asten 
property be avoided. It was the original design of 
this benevolent woman that the proceeds of her gift 
should be appropriated to extinguish the debt, and 
she had recently expressed a desire that the lots be 
disposed of for that laudable purpose. Accordingly 
Post was authorized in June to apply to a Master in 
Chancery for liberty to sell. In July such leave was 
granted. Harsen and Prall were appointed in August 
to effect the sale at an upset price of $3750. It was 
stated later in the month that a verbal sale had been 
made at this valuation. At the October session the 
would-be purchaser declined and an offer at a lower 
price was made to him. Advertisement was sug- 
gested at private sale and a mortgage on the two lots 
adjoining, which had been bequeathed to the Church 
by Mrs. Asten's will, proposed. In November Striker 
and Post were deputized to sell two lots at auction. 
Eventually the property was sold to John Sharp, 
merchant, for $3000, by this description: all those 
two certain lots of ground situate in the Eighth Ward 
and designated in a certain map made by Adolphus 
Loss, Surveyor, of part of the estate of Barbara Asten 
by No. 6 and No. 21, fronting on Broadway and Mercer 
Street, being 74 feet, 10 inches north from Hester 
Street, containing in front and rear each 2 5 feet and in 
depth together from street to street 200 feet. Deed 
dated Feb. 21, 181 7, signed by Alexander Gunn, Pres- 
ident, and James Striker, Clerk (L. 122, Conv. 377). 




^be Cburcb at IbarsenvUle 183 

The first impression of the seal of the Corporation 
which was adopted this month was attached to this 
instrument. It was presented by Hopper and Harsen 
and was made of silver with these 
initials "R. D. C. H." engraved 
thereon. 

The disposal of the pews in the 
new edifice now engaged atten- 
tion. In July Col. Anthony Post 
and G. B. Vroom were selected 
to put a valuation on the pews, 
according to their situation and size, so as to bring 
$16,500. Deacons Lawrence and Post were appointed 
to fix the rents at the pro rata of 13 per cent, of 
the valuation for the first three years, and to preside 
at the sale, which was set for the Tuesday afternoon 
after the formal opening of the church. 

The Evening Post of July 31, 1816 contained this 
advertisement : 

Sale op Pews at Bloomingdale 

On Tuesday next, the 6th inst. the pews in 
the Reformed Dutch Church, lately erected at 
Bloomingdale, will be sold at Auction, the sale 
to commence precisely at 4 o'clock in the after- 
noon at the Church. 

Harsen and Striker were chosen to notify the sub- 
scribers whose names have been heretofore indited. 
Rentals to commence Aug. i. In case of default in 
the payment of the rent for six months such pews 
should revert to the corporation. It was reported 
in August that 28 pews had been sold and leased, the 
latter for a term of five years. Some of the pewholders 
of this date whose names have been gleaned from the 



1 84 ^be "flew l?ork of IJesterba^ 

records were Isaac L. Varian, who later became Mayor 
of the City, Rev. H. G. Ufford, Mr. Smedes, John 
Hopper, Ichabod Prall, S. N. Bayard, the widow 
Beekman, Andrew Hopper, Gurdon S. Mumford, 
Andrew van Buskirk, Cornelius Harsen, and Archibald 
Gracie. It was resolved in October, 1818, that the 
pews occupied by the Elders and Deacons be altered 
and Striker, Harsen, and Post be a committee to 
engineer the matter. Because of a disagreement as 
to the plan to be pursued Prall was added. Finally 
the matter was shelved. 

DEDICATION 

The Reformed Dutch Church at Blooming- 
dale will be opened and dedicated to Almighty 
God next Lord's Day, when a collection will be 
made up for the benefit of the Church ; the serv- 
ice to commence precisely at 10 o'clock in the 
morning. The church is a neat stone building 
situated near the five mile stone, and lately 
erected by the congregation under the pastoral 
charge of the Rev. Alexander Gunn. 

Evening Post, July 31, 1 8 1 6. 

August 4, 1816. This was a great day in the village. 
The Church was dedicated with eclat. The pulpit 
was decorated with the damask cloth which Andrew 
Hopper had presented, and lying thereon was noted 
the large Bible, the gift of Wilham King, the builder 
of the edifice, the exterior of which had been con- 
structed of stone. The long communion table graced 
the space just below the pulpit. The building was 
filled to the doors. Representatives of such Bloom- 
ingdale famiHes as Beekman, Bayard, Van den Heuvel, 
Schieffelin, Post, Gracie, Livingston, Adams, Benson, 



Zbc Cburcb at IbareenvUIe 185 

Bogert, Bowne, Brower, Cargill, Cornell, Dana, Deas, 
Doremus, Borland, Dusenberry, Felix, Fleet, Hegeman, 
Hardenbrook, Havemeyer, Howland, Jasper, Law- 
rence, Leggett, Low, Lozier, Magee, Mildeberger, 
Morris, Nash, van Orden, Quackenbush, Riker, Ritter, 
Schuyler, Sidell, Somerindyke, van Zant, von Post, 
Waldron, Arkenburgh, Carss, Clendining, de Peyster, 
Hanaway, Hardman, Hoffman, Meier, Mott, Sanford, 
Varick, Findley, Fish, and Remsen, without reciting 
many of those heretofore mentioned in the text, were 
present. A handsome lawn sloped to the Blooming- 
dale Road, along which a picket fence had been erected. 
From the gateway a path led to stone steps which 
provided entrance, iron scrapers having been inserted 
on an end of the upper step that the mud of the Road 
be not carried into the sanctuary. To one side hung 
the rope attached to the Jumel bell. Through the 
portals trooped the assemblage. We can well imagine 
the pride with which the pastor presided. The pre- 
centor stood in the gallery and led with a tuning fork 
the old-fashioned hymns and the psalms from the 
new books. Altogether a revival of religious interest 
was awakened which scattered seeds of activity through- 
out the district. An expense of fully sixteen thou- 
sands of dollars had been incurred, a portion of which 
was yet to be provided — a large sum for those days 
and this suburban locality. It was reported on Dec. 
9th that the total amount obtained through the sub- 
scription papers had aggregated $1146.31, and some 
ninety dollars were yet to be collected. A larger 
amount was subsequently donated as shown by the 
list which follows. It is prefaced by an extract from 
the Minutes passed April 29, 181 4, as hereinbefore 
given (p. 169), supplemented with this further obli- 



i86 



Zbc flew l?orh of ^cetcxtfu^ 



gation somewhat altering the caption of the list as 
detailed on page 177: 



N. B. When the Church is built, the pews will be 
valued and sold at auction subject to an annual rent; 
and the amount of every purchaser's subscription will 
be credited as purchase-money either in part or in whole 
as the case may be. 



Names 
Jacob Harsen 
Saml. A. Lawrence 
Cornelius Harsen 
Jno. Beekman 
I. Prall 
Caspar Meier 
St. N. Bayard 
John Asten 
Abrm. K. Beekman 
Gerard Beekman 
John Horn 
Andrew Hopper 
WilHam Jas. Stewart 
Jn. S. Roulet 
N. DePeyster 
Lemuel Wells 
Magdalen Ritter 
Jno. Clendining 
Wm. A. Hardenbrook 
John Adams 
John Hopper 
Stephen van Rensselaer 
Henry Rutgers 
Gerard de Peyster 
J. C. van den Heuvel 
Arch. Gracie 
John Jacob Astor 



Places of Residence 
Bloomingdale 



New York 



Albany 
New York 



DUs. 
500 
250 

250 
100 

125 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
250 
100 

SO 
296 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 

SO 



^be Cburcb at IbarsenvUle 187 

Names Places of Residence DUs. 

Peter Hegeman New York 50 

Henry Post " 5° 

Thomas Gardner " 50 

At the session at Hopper's on the i6th a letter was 
received from Lawrence declining to serve longer as 
deacon. During his service of two years much had 
been accomplished, very largely due to his initiative, 
and it was with regret that his resignation was ac- 
cepted. Mack succeeded to the vacancy. The next 
meeting was called at his residence. It was customary 
to land the wood for the heating of the Church at 
Harsen's dock. 

Mrs. Asten was a daughter of Caspar Samler who in 
1780 acquired 37 acres of land near the junction of the 
Bloomingdale and the Post Roads and later 15 acres 
additional. Three distinct Samler houses are located 
on the Commissioners' map of 1807. Samler died in 
1 8 10 and left his farm to his grandchildren. Some 
five acres of portion No. IV. thereof, that part which 
formed the angle between these two roads, he devised 
to the children of his daughter "Barbary should she 
have any. " Effingham Schieffelin, William Coulthard, 
and James W. Anderson married her sisters. 

Mrs. Asten died July 24, 181 6, without issue leaving 
a will dated June 29th of that year (L. 53, Wills 290), 
wherein she bequeathed lots numbered 22 and 7 on 
the Loss map, extending from Broadway to Mercer 
Street, to the Church and Nos. 8, 9, 23, and 24 to 
"my particular friend. Rev. Alexander Gunn" and 
to his heirs forever. To him also was devised "my 
mahogany book case." To her sister Mary, the wife 
of Effingham Schieffelin Nos. 13, 14, 17, and 18 and a 
house and lot "adjoining Nassau Street" were be- 



i88 z\)c IRew Borft of ipesterbai? 

queathed. Should she have no heirs the fee descended 
to the Church. The testatrix set apart lots desig- 
nated as Nos. 12, 28, and 27 from the proceeds of 
which Thomas Rose was to get $500, Henry Post 
$500, Judith Paul $250, Richard Harrison $1000, and 
a faithful servant $500. By codicil dated July 8th 
the above provisions for her sister and for Rose were 
revoked and the executors directed to sell Nos. 13 and 
17 and to invest the proceeds and pay the interest to 
said Rose during his lifetime and to his present wife 
after his decease. On her death the principal re- 
verted to the Church to which also were bequeathed 
Nos. 14 and 18, immediately after the testatrix's death. 
Jacob Harsen, Alexander Gunn, and Ichabod Prall 
were nominated executors. 

It was intimated that the heirs were inclined to 
take possession of this property, and in March, 181 7, 
Harsen and Post were appointed to confer with them, 
with power to commence suits if necessary. They 
were advised that they should file a bill in chancery 
which was accordingly undertaken, and at the same 
time the lots were fenced on the Broadway front. 
Thereupon the attorneys for the heirs, Schieffelin, 
Coulthard, and Anderson, made an offer of $2500 each 
for the four lots bequeathed outright to the Church. 
(Nos. 7, 22, 14, and 18). In June the offer was raised 
to $2600. The Chancery bill was completed and filed 
and subpoenas served in July. The rear of the lots 
along Mercer St. was then fenced in order to take full 
possession. In August it was stated that the attorneys 
had purchased a pretended right to the property which 
had involved them in some difficulty, in consequence 
of which they had renewed the offer in writing and 
agreed to pay half the costs. It was thought advisable 



tCbe (Eburcb at Ibarsenvllle 189 

to let the suit proceed. In September a further propo- 
sition being received it was resolved to sell to Effing- 
ham Schieffelin, William Coulthard, and James W. 
Anderson, representatives of the heirs-at-law contesting 
the validity of the will, for $2700, each, under certain 
conditions which the lawyers later agreed to. Petition 
to the Chancellor for permission to sell was granted 
at a Court of Chancery held at Albany on December 
I St. By the report for 1818 we find that settlement 
of the difference with the firm was effected Dec. 24, 
181 7. Most of the Consistory were present and the 
President (the pastor) and the Clerk (Striker) had 
executed the church deed as directed (L. 124, Conv. 
429). The sum of $5633.29 was received and de- 
posited in the City Bank. Harsen announced that 
he had received a donation of $100 from Schieffelin 
for his trouble, which was turned in as a gift with 
thanks. 

In August, 181 7, application was made to the Con- 
sistory in town requesting aid. A loan of $4000 was 
granted on the personal bonds of Hopper, Striker, 
Harsen, and Post. It was decided that $3000 was 
sufficient and three bonds of $1000 each were prepared 
in September and signed by the above gentlemen with 
the exception of Post whose place was taken by Prall. 
Two of these bonds were redeemed in December from 
the proceeds of the Asten lots. Jacob Naugle was 
appointed singing leader at $20 per year and held that 
position from Jan., 1818 to Oct., 181 9. 

The yearly report of 18 18 tells in detail the pay- 
ments made from the purchase-money received from 
the above sale and proceeds : ' ' The President and 
Treasurer cannot but congratulate the Consistory 
upon the liquidation of so many heavy debts which 



I90 tllbe "Mew l?ork of l^esterba^ 

have given all so much concern and trouble." It 
appears that the present debt was only $91.77 more 
than when the new edifice was begun. 

The sum is so small that it may be said that the New 
Church is entirely paid for; that they are exactly in the 
situation in which they were before the comer-stone of that 
building was laid. . . . We have gained in fact the church 
and the extinction of our old debt. Few churches in our 
land can congratulate themselves upon being in better 
circumstances. Have we not great cause, Brethren, for 
gratitude to that God who has been with us and helped 
us? The whole expense of our church, exclusive of the 
burial ground, is $16000. Three thousand was collected 
by the congregation. The rest Providence has furnished 
us from different sources. 

From the Consistory in town $2500 

" Mrs. Asten 8400 

" individuals in small sums 3100 



$14000 



Yes, the sum of $14000 has been given us from the good 
hand of our God! This sum added to the $3000 raised in 
the congregation makes $17000. Surely we must say the 
Lord has done marvellous things. Let us rejoice and 
praise His Holy Name. Such being the happy result of 
our labours there is not one who has had a share in them 
and been ready at times to sink under their weight but on 
a review of the past will rejoice to the last moment, that 
God has honoured him in the work and made him the 
happy instrument of so much service to the interests of 
this Zion. We cannot find language to express our wonder 
and gratitude. 

Signed by Alexander Gunn and Henry Post. Business 
was thereupon suspended and thanks were returned 
to God for His great goodness. It was resolved to 



^be (Tburcb at Ibarsenvlllc 191 

erect a suitable monument to the memory of "our 
distinguished Benefactress, " who had in fact built the 
Church. This had been erected prior to Feb. 2d 
and gave general satisfaction. It was decided that a 
lecture be delivered every other Sabbath evening in 
the old church which was to be put in condition to 
render it convenient and comfortable for the purpose. 
In April the President stated that the walk and con- 
versation of the members generally, so far as he knew, 
were according to the Gospel. The Lord's Supper 
had not been dispensed heretofore after the manner 
of the Dutch Church. On solicitation that this order 
be followed the Pastor readily agreed to adopt that 
form, as it was a non-essential and to gratify the wishes 
of the Consistory. The order as written by Dr. 
Kuyper would be followed. The method is different 
from that at present observed, as will be noticed: 

1. After sermon, the form is read and an 
extemporaneous prayer delivered. 

2. Another portion is read, and during the 
singing of a psalm or hymn the pastor de- 
scends from the pulpit and prepares the 
elements. 

3. An address is made, concluding with an 
invitation first to the officers and then the 
other communicants. 

4. When seated at table the elements are 
dispensed ; then those who have partaken are 
dismissed. 

5. While they retire and others approach 
the Clerk sings a verse of a Psalm or hymn; 
this to be repeated "at every succeeding 
table." 

6. When the last table is served the minis- 
ter ascends the pulpit, reads the concluding 



192 XTbe 1Rew l?ork of l?e0ter^a^ 

part of the form, makes an extemporaneous 
prayer, and gives out two or three verses to be 
sung. 

7. Collection and benediction. 

In June Harsen and Striker were appointed to wait 
on Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Rose, who were to receive 
the income of lots Nos. 13 and 17 under Mrs. Asten's 
will, to ascertain if the life estate could be bought. 
No conclusion could be arrived at with the beneficiaries. 
Harsen and Post were requested to negotiate a sale 
of the Consistory's interest with the Life Insurance 
office. This was found impossible unless the execu- 
tors would assign the bond and mortgage now thereon. 
Coulthard had offered $1100 payable in 60 days, 
whereupon Harsen proposed that the lots be granted 
to him for that amount at 30 days, and this was 
agreed upon. Conveyance dated Oct. 5, 1818 (L. 
131, Conv. 433). With this money the other $1000 
bond given for the loan of August, 181 7, was paid 
and the final debt on the Church extinguished. In 
August of 1 81 8 the manner of election of officers was 
changed. Hereafter an Elder and Deacon would be 
chosen one year and the rest of the members, two 
Elders and two Deacons, the following year. There- 
upon Striker was re-elected and Samuel A. Lawrence 
chosen as Deacon. On receiving his declination John 
Asten was unanimously elected to the vacancy on 
condition that he join the Church. In September a 
certificate was presented from "the Church in town" 
and Asten's name was accordingly entered on the 
books. It was stated that steps leading from the 
Road had been put in position by Post, who had also 
seen to the regulation of the property in front thereof. 
His "seasonable benefaction" was appreciated. A 



^be Cburcb at IbarsenvlUe 193 

number of the attendants had removed from the village, 
among them former Deacon Mack. Those who had 
done so or died were erased from the records. Prall 
' ' moved up " in October. Robert Oliver was appointed 
sexton in place of Isaac Dey. A pump and cistern 
were provided for the parsonage and a well was stmk 
there the next month. A horse was obtained for the 
use of the minister. 

In January, 1819, an endeavor was made to put a stop 
to the selling of liquors and other profanations of the 
Sabbath "in this place." Twenty shillings had been 
collected for the contingent fund of Classis. Wood 
19s. per load. This method of computation was a 
relic of the English occupation. When the Federal 
government recast its financial arrangements upon the 
decimal system of the dollar, the shilling remained 
as a designation for several sums which were fixed 
for the several States by the last general quotations 
of the paper of the precedent colonies. ^ The cheapest 
shilling of all was the York shilling, in use in New 
York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Michigan, computed 
at i2| cents, or eight to the dollar, the colonial bill 
of credit being worth only $2.50 to the pound sterling. 

Lock was engaged in October to sing. Consistory 
met at Asten's for the first time on December 7 th. 
Application had been made to the summer residents 

»The Pennsylvania shilling was 13 J cents, and such was the 
reckoning in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. The New 
England shilling ran six to the dollar, or 1 6f cents, and this value 
held in Virginia, Kansas, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, 
Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama. In Georgia and South Carolina 
the shilling was computed at 2 if cents, or 4 shillings 8 pence to the 
dollar. The shilling remained the customary unit of domestic 
marketing in New York until long after the Civil War, and is still 
met with. 



194 ^be IRew l?orf; ot l?e0ter^a^ 

during the past season for contributions and in April, 
1820, subscription papers were circulated among the 
land-owners in the neighborhood for the support of 
the Gospel. The hamlet was sparsely settled, and 
largely by persons whose income, while ample for a 
careful living, did not allow of much extra expense. 
This state of affairs necessitated the solicitation of 
contributions at frequent intervals. Harsen, Striker, 
Post, and Prall were appointed a committee in this 
instance. This method was obligatory, as collections 
were taken up at divine service only on stated occa- 
sions. Each of these officers selected distinct dis- 
tricts to canvass. Donations were made by Mrs, 
Beekman and by Messrs. Weyman, Geo. Wilson, present 
Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, Bumham, 
Low, Cargill, Bansel, Bayard, Buck, Meyers, Carrick, 
Jauncey, and Ogilvie, who lived near by. The after- 
noon services began the first Sabbath in April. 

Now and again a case deserving of discipline pre- 
sented itself. A flagrant one occurred in March, 182 1. 
Not being a member the culprit was suspended for 
six months. Another who was addicted to intoxica- 
tion fared in like manner. Committees were ap- 
pointed in each instance to converse with the guilty 
ones. The individual first mentioned repented of her 
sin, professed sorrow, and requested that the suspension 
be raised. This was done after careful examination 
in February, 1823. Another who was reported in 
August, 1824, was so humble and sorry for the sin com- 
mitted that repressive measures were not considered 
requisite. A tavern-keeper was advised in 1826 to 
abstain from the Communion Table as long as he kept 
his house open and transacted his business on the 
Lord's Day. 



Zbc Cburcb at IbarsenvlIIe 195 

In May, 1821, it was announced that the late 
Johannah Beekman had bequeathed four lots in trust, 
which were to be sold and one half the net proceeds be 
given to the Consistory. The portion of the will (L. 56, 
Wills, 384) relating thereto is as follows: 

To my respected friend, Rev. Alexander Gunn, Pastor 
of the Reformed Dutch Church and Congregation at 
Bloomingdale in the Ninth Ward, all those four lots of 
ground situate in the Tenth Ward of the City of New York, 
heretofore part of the Estate of Pierre van Cortlandt, to 
wit: lots Nos. 62 63 64 and 65, all fronting on the easterly 
side of Forsyth (late Second) Street, as the said lots are 
bounded and described in and by a map of the ground 
heretofore of Pierre van Cortlandt, deceased. To have 
and to hold the said four lots in trust, nevertheless, and to 
and for the following uses and no other, to wit, the said 
Alexander Gunn, his heirs and assigns and he or they are 
authorized to sell and convey them at public vendue or 
otherwise whenever he shall judge it most advantageous 
and good and sufficient deeds in fee simple to execute and 
deliver therefor and the proceeds of such sale, after de- 
ducting all necessary charges, taxes etc., he shall dispose 
of in the following manner, viz: One quarter of the net 
proceeds thereof he shall pay to the Treasurer of the Ameri- 
can Bible Society, one half to the Trustees of the Church 
at Bloomingdale of which he is now Pastor, for the sole 
benefit of said Church, and the remaining one quarter he 
shall keep for his sole use and benefit and that of his 
family. (Will dated March 5, 182 1). 

On the 29th of May it was reported that the lots 
had been sold at auction and brought $440. Har- 
sen bid in three of them, which he said the Consistory 
could have if they pleased. Two of them were ac- 
cepted in June, viz. Nos. 63 and 64, and Prall offered 
to advance the money necessary to fill them to the 



196 Zhc IRew l?ork of ^cetcvbwi 

proper level. The Pastor and Harsen were appointed 
to make such a contract. These offers were noticed 
as being liberal ones — creditable to these gentlemen 
as friends of the Church and deserving of grateful 
remembrance. Alexander Gunn as Trustee conveyed 
to Henry Post Nos. 62, 63, and 64, each 25 x 100 
feet, by deed dated June 14th, consideration $300; 
bounded west in front by Forsyth Street, north by 
the Dutch Church burial ground, east in rear by 
other ground of van Cortlandt, and south by lot No. 
65, sold to Joseph Concklin. A lower price had to be 
accepted because the "removal of the Church ground 
fence" had reduced the size somewhat. Post sold 
Nos. 63 and 64 to Caleb Concklin later for $400. 

The new singer, Humphrey, was engaged to lead 
in June, 182 1. The winter evening lectures would 
begin in the old church in October. The afternoon 
services were resumed the third Sabbath in April, 
1822. Friday previous to Communion Sabbath was 
set apart to be observed as a day of fasting, humiliation, 
and prayer. In July, it was arranged that thereafter 
monthly collections be taken up from May to Novem- 
ber and quarterly for the rest of the year. The usual 
summer subscription was ordered. Striker and Prall 
were to cover the territory from Manhattanville to 
the van den Heuvel mansion and Harsen and Post 
the rest of the congregation. Post declined to stand 
again for election in August, and Richard A. Striker 
was chosen deacon. By invitation, Post sat and acted 
with the Consistory in November, when it met at his 
house after the summer vacation. Striker became 
Treasurer in the place of Post resigned. Thanks were 
voted to him for his faithful attention as Treasurer. 
A committee was appointed to inquire what alter- 




^/^.UJit^ 




Portrait and signature of Richard A. Striker, Esq., from the original painting in 
possession of Mrs. J. H. Maples 



^be Cburcb at Ibarsenvillc 197 

ation could be made in the place "where the Clerk 
stands. " 

The cupola was repaired in January, 1823, and John 
H. Striker made collector. The afternoon service 
began the first Sabbath in May at 4 o'clock. Post 
was appointed Church master. The Church and par- 
sonage were ordered to be put in a complete state 
of repair. On August 12th, the terms of Hopper, 
Harsen, and Prall having expired, they were re-elected. 
The regular fall collection was ordered. Striker un- 
dertook to collect donations in the neighborhood of 
his home, and Prall near by the Church. Among the 
contributors were Messrs. Boggs, Duryea, van Antwerp, 
Watkins (who married a daughter of James Striker), 
Joel Post, Gideon Lee, and Mrs. Bingham. Trees were 
planted in and about the grounds under the super- 
vision of R. A. Striker in November and the chimneys 
were ordered cleaned. It was found impracticable 
to have the work done "by the patent sweeps," and 
"another method" was used. Consistory met at 
Quackenbush's residence for the first time. Thomas 
J. Emmons was engaged as sexton in June, 1824. 
Among his prescribed duties were to care for the prop- 
erty that it might not be injured in any way by boys 
or cattle, to prevent children from being disorderly, 
in the summer season to have the windows open so 
as to give air without rattling the blinds, to attend 
to the sawing of the wood, keep the stoves in order 
in both the old and new churches, to open and light 
with candles the former edifice on lecture evenings, 
and to direct the work of opening vaults and digging 
graves in the churchyard. Isaac Dey, former occu- 
pant of this office, was discharged. Asten presented 
some damask for a new cushion for the pulpit. The 



iqS Zhe Bew l?orft of IJestetbai? 

study at the parsonage was put in better condition. 
In August Striker, was re-elected Elder and Prall 
chosen in place of Hopper deceased. Asten, Richard 
A. Striker and James Quackenbush were elected Dea- 
cons, the latter in place of Prall. They were ordained 
in September. The afternoon service was suspended 
in November. 

In January, 1825, it became known that the es- 
tablishment of a Dutch church was in contemplation 
in the vicinity of the Arsenal (the present building 
near Fifth Avenue within the limits of Central Park). 
A wish had been expressed that this Consistory take 
it in charge as a branch of the local church. John 
Williams, a communicant, offered to donate two or 
three lots as a site provided an edifice like unto Mr. 
Baldwin's or Doctor Rowan's would be built. Some 
opposition to this undertaking was evinced and the 
matter was postponed for further enlightenment. 
Later in the month it was decided to be inexpedient 
"under present circumstances." The election of 
church officers was changed from August 12 th to the 
first Monday in October annually. It was found that 
members of the body were often absent in the country 
at the former date. Harsen, Prall, and Quackenbush 
were re-elected to their respective offices in October 
accordingly. A new cistern was constructed at the 
parsonage in March, 1826. Naugle re-engaged to 
lead the singing. Striker, Asten, and Richard A. 
Striker were re-elected the following October. 

A list of donations to the Female Cent Society made 
by the ladies of the congregation this year supplies 
these names: Anna Maria Jackson, a granddaughter 
of Jacob Harsen, Mary Striker, the Elder's wife, Mrs. 
Post, wife of the Deacon, Mrs. Horn, Mrs. Clendining, 



Zl)c Cburcb at Ibarsenville 199 

Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Meier, Mrs. Kunze, Mrs. Ichabod 
Prall, Mrs. John Williams, Mrs. Savage, Mrs. Martin, 
Catherine Cosine, Rachel Cosine, Sarah Kent, Mrs. 
Cargill, Mrs. Westerfield, Mrs. Powis, Mrs. T. J. Stevens, 
Miss Lavinia Mott, daughter of the Rev. George 
Strebeck and adopted daughter of Jordan Mott, Mrs. 
Garret H. Striker, Mrs. Isabella Hamilton, Mrs. 
Quackenbush, Mrs. Feitner, Mrs. John Miller, Mrs. 
Amory, and Mrs. Bayard. 

The location of the parsonage was found thus early 
to be unhealthful and the Pastor applied for consent 
to his removal therefrom. This desire was concurred 
in with the hope that a change of residence would 
prove beneficial to the health of his family, and his 
children be more conveniently educated. Board met 
at the old Church June 5, 1827, for the first time since 
the new edifice was occupied. 

In 1828, a horse shed was put up adjoining the bam 
on the parsonage plot. Harsen, Prall, and Quacken- 
bush re-elected. Communion articles were purchased. 
Each was initialled with the usual style: "R. D. C. H." 
Those heretofore in use had been loaned by a friend. 
The new set consisted of one flagon, four cups, one bowl, 
and two plates. Subscriptions were received therefor 
and also for larger stoves, some complaint having 
been made that the building was not sufficiently 
warmed in winter with the present ones. Those who 
made donations here indited aid us in fixing the names 
of some attendants on the services. Mr. Gunn, Jacob 
Harsen, John Horn, Jr., Richard A. Striker, James 
Striker, Ann Striker, Caspar Meier, David Cargill, 
J. Prall, John Clendining, John Asten, Henry Post, 
John Williams, Joel Post, Augustus A. Prall, Richard 
Powis, Samuel A. Savage, Thomas Stevens, John Beek- 



200 Zbc 'Ucxo IJork of l^eaterbai? 

man, S. N. Bayard, Samuel van Orden, Martha Amory, 
C. and R. Cozine, Mr. Park, Mrs. Leggett, Mr. Wester- 
field, Mrs. Martin, Miss A. M. Jackson, Mr. Quacken- 
bush, and Mr. Ackerman. Isaac Dey appointed 
sexton in May. Striker, Asten, and R. A. Striker were 
re-elected. 

Shortly after the new church was contemplated, 
a cemetery in the rear thereof was arranged for. This 
was very necessary, for beyond a few private grounds 
there were no burial places in the vicinage. Mr. 
Gunn's duties occupied his time to such an extent 
that he requested to be reHeved of membership on 
the building committee, and when Harsen expressed 
a willingness to assume the responsibility in the pastor's 
stead, the Consistory in June, 1814, donated to him 
sufficient ground on which to have constructed a family 
vault. This was the beginning of the local God's 
acre which was destined to hold the remains of so many 
old Bloomingdale residents. For over fifty years, 
this plot, lying in the shadow of the sanctuary, was 
used for the purpose designated and became a land- 
mark on the line of the Road. In November of the 
following year, the Church walls having delimited the 
location and size of ground which could be so used, 
resolutions were passed that the ends of vaults should 
be built against the rear wall of the building, and Post 
and Prall were appointed a committee to ascertain 
the usual size of such places of deposit. Fifty dollars 
was fixed as the price for the site of each vault. The 
disposition of the ground was put in the hands of 
Harsen and Post, whereupon Striker stated that he 
desired to buy sufficient space for his family sepulchre. 
This vault was the second to be constructed. A deed 
of the land, however, was not executed until December, 



^be Cburcb at IbatacnvUIc 201 

1 81 6, when it was moved and carried unanimously 
that he be presented with the ground occupied. In 
the meantime, as a mark of gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. 
Asten, ground was also granted them (Nov., 1815) 
should they wish to use it. Rules for the regulation 
of the cemetery proper were fixed upon in December. 
The sexton was allowed to charge for his services as 
follows : 

For attending and inviting $4 . 00 

For opening a vault, infant under 2 years 2 . 00 

" " " " " 5 " 3.00 

" " " " 10 " 4.00 

" " 1.50 

' ' use of horse , in addition 2 . 00 

These church fees were also agreed to : 

For use of pall i • 50 

" privilege of interment in church vault 8.00 

" for grave for infant under one year 2 .00 

" " " child to age of 5 3.00 

" " " all above that age 4.00 

The digging of graves should commence at the north- 
east comer of the ground and continue regularly to 
the southeast comer of the stone wall, and no one but 
the sexton should do this work. The first interment 
was that of Elizabeth Board, the wife of Henry Post. 
At the session at Striker's Bay on January 8, 1816, 
space was granted therefor free of expense. There 
is no means of ascertaining just who were buried 
there. In the records, the names of a few are men- 
tioned. The next found is in June, 181 7, when a Mr. 
Moore paid for the interment of his children. A pall 
was not obtained until October, 1818. The price 
for its use was raised to $2.00. Other families who 



202 TOe 1Rew IPorFi of IJe^terba^ 

had burial space in 1819 were Brown, Hoffman, Holmes, 
and Drake. In August, 1820, it is stated that James 
Buchanan, the British Consul, Mr. Drake, Mr. van 
Orden, Mr. Field, and Mr. Cozine had had children 
buried in the churchyard. Mrs. Waldron's remains 
were also interred, as were children of Mr. Brown and 
Mr. Holmes. The first use of the pall to be noticed 
was at Andrew Hopper's funeral, who was interred 
in the family plot at Ninth Avenue and 50th Street. 
In February, 1823, Mr. Cornell paid for the burial 
of his mother-in-law. 

On the appointment of a new sexton in 1824, the 
pall was placed in his charge, and also the collection 
of funeral charges. Strangers or persons not pew- 
holders must pay in advance. The fee for digging a 
grave was fixed at one dollar. The question of en- 
larging the cemetery arose in January, 1825, and Harsen 
and Quackenbush were appointed to inquire where an 
acre of ground could be bought therefor. Diligent 
search failed to find a suitable spot and the committee 
was discharged in April. Mr. Freeman and Mr. 
Kinkade were interred in January of this year. Mr. 
Clendining's man was buried in October. Caspar 
Meier made application for ground for a family vault 
in March, 1826, which was granted. James Wester- 
field made a similar request in May. Deeds were 
approved in both instances that month. The plan 
of building a church vault was then entertained. 
Striker was designated to ascertain the cost and 
estimates were requested. The matter was not of 
such urgency as to require haste and fell asleep, in 
which state it remained for the next fifteen years. 
In June, 1827, Dr. Joseph Bayley made application 
for a vault space for his father-in-law. Col. Anthony 



^be Cburcb at IbarsenvUIe 203 

Post, which was granted, and in May, 1828, Elder 
Prall submitted a like request with the same result. 
But seven vaults, occupying the entire space along 
the rear wall, were constructed in all. 

From the records of St. Michael's Church the fol- 
lowing additional interments in the Harsenville ground 
are noted: 

Mrs. van Buskirk, widow of Lawrence van Buskirk and 
daughter of Wm. Burnham. Her remains were re- 
moved to the new vault at St. Michael's May 19, 1835. 

William Bowen, son of John Crump and Hannah his wife, 
aged 20 months, March 19, 1843. 

Mary Elizabeth Ferguson, an inmate of the New York 
Orphan Asylum, aged 4 years, April 9, 1844. 

Margaret Walker, aged 42, August 30, 1849. 

Herman, son of James Punnett and Mary Meier his wife, 
aged I year 7 mos.; in family vault January 24, 1850. 

Catharine Elizabeth Purcell, died July 5th, aged 8 years, 
2 mos. 6 days; in church vault, July 6, 1850. 

Philip Knowel, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Kellow, both 
deceased, died August 28th, aged i year, 4 months, 3 
days; in church vault August 29, 1850. 

Robert Farmer, son of Abraham V. Barberie and Loretta 
Cadez his wife, died August 30th, aged 2 years, 14 days; 
in church vault August 31, 1850. 

Walter, son of James Punnett and Marie K. his wife, aged 
4 mos. 16 days; in family vault of his grandfather 
Caspar Meier August i, 1853. 

The Revised Ordinances of 1866, Chap, xlix., 
Sections i and 2, prohibited the opening of graves 
south of 86th Street, and at a meeting of the Board 
of Health held June 19, 1872, this ordinance was 
amended so as to apply to all that part of the city 
south of 130th Street. 

Among the holders of pews in 1826 were the fol- 



204 Zhc 1Revo ^ov^ of IJester^ai? 

lowing individuals: Caspar Meier, Rev. Mr. Bansel, 
James Boggs, Catharine and Rachel Cozine, Theodore 
Mayer, Mrs. Andrew Hopper, Isaac L. Varian, John 
Cozine, Henry Post, Joel Post, John Clendining, James 
Bumham, Andrew Watt, John Parks, James Quacken- 
bush, John Moore, William Holmes, Ichabod Prall, 
Thomas J. Stephens, Henry H. Schieffelin, John Beek- 
man, Baron John C. van den Heuvel, John Williams, 
Aaron B. Jackson, Richard H. Striker, John Asten, 
David Cargill, Stephen N. Bayard, Jacob Harsen, 
James Striker, J. G. Russell, Jordan Mott, John Adams, 
Philo Mills, and Messrs. Martin, Savage, Leggett, 
Westerfield, Darke, Henderson, Tappan, Weed, Powis, 
and Horn. In 1831, Frederick C. Havemeyer and 
William Holden took pews, and in 1837 Messrs. 
Nolton and Riker. 

The Church life had peacefully and fruitfully pro- 
ceeded after the financial troubles had been weathered 
through the instrumentality of the bounty of the 
devoted and benevolent woman Mrs. Asten. Let us 
quote for a space the words of Dr. Martyn : 

Children were born, baptized and instructed in godliness 
at home and in God's house. Marriages were solemnized 
and the dead buried in the blessed hope of the resurrection. 
The little graveyard "was filled with all the nameless 
pathos of the here and the hereafter." Pastor and people 
walked hand in hand. The scene was like a vision of 
Acadia. But alas and alack! Where is the earthly Eden 
that is free from care and grief? In the land of nowhere! 
It was the year 1829. Without warning, like a bolt from 
the blue, the beloved pastor of this church fell dead, 
lisping "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Bloomingdale 
was aghast. 

Notice of the passing was published in the Evening 



^be Cburcb at IbarsenvUIe 205 

Post and the Gazette, and in the N. Y. Spectator of 
October 26. appeared an obituary which speaks of the 
heavy loss which had been sustained, and of the truly 
evangelical character of the deceased, who was much 
beloved in private life. An estimate of his worth could 
be gleaned from his selection as biographer of Dr. 
Livingston. He was in his forty-fourth year, with 
much usefulness yet before him. Dr. Gunn's five 
children were born in Bloomingdale. One of them 
was the first to be baptized in the new House of 
Worship, 1 816. The last child was named in honor 
of John Asten, 1818. At the first meeting of the 
Consistory held thereafter (Oct. 1 5) at the Harsen Man- 
sion, the following action was taken: 

It having pleased Almighty God to remove by death, 
on the first day of this month, the Reverend Alexander 
Gunn, D.D., the beloved Pastor of Our Church, 

Resolved that, whilst this Consistory desire to bow 
submissively and reverentially to the will of a holy and wise 
God, they feel their hearts penetrated with sorrow by the 
sore bereavement which they, in common with the Church 
over which they preside, have experienced in the removal 
of their late Pastor in the midst of his usefuless and in 
the 44th year of his age. A man greatly endeared to them 
by a course of more than twenty-one years' labor in their 
midst, by his consistent and exemplary piety and his 
prudence, zeal, and faithfulness as their spiritual guide and 
comforter, they do hereby record their deep sense of his 
worth and their loss, and are only comforted by the per- 
suasion they feel that he has already met the welcome and 
thrilling salutation "Well done, good and faithful servant" 
and that they in their desolation will be mercifully re- 
garded by the "Chief Shepherd" to whom they desire to 
look for succour. 

The minute concludes as follows: 



2o6 ziK 1Rew l?orft of IpceterDa^ 

The Elder Mr. Prall presented the request of Sarah Gunn, 
the widow of our late Pastor, for a deed and right of a lot of 
ground in conjunction or moiety with Ichabod Prall in the 
yard of the Church for a vault of the same dimensions 
as the other vaults, Mr. Prall relinquishing a grant for a 
vault formerly made to him. Resolved that the above 
requests be granted and that a deed be made to the persons 
above named when requested. 

In remembrance of his long and useful pastorate, 
a tablet to the Doctor's memory was erected by the 
Consistory on the south side of the lower vestibule in 
the fourth church edifice, about on the site of his tomb. 

This memorial reads as follows : 

ERECTED BY THE CONSISTORY 

to the memory of the 

REVD. ALEXANDER GUNN, D.D. 

Pastor of this Church from 1808 to 1829; 

When, on the ist of October, and in the 44th year of his age. 

While "toiling still with a busy hand," he fell asleep 

and awoke in heaven. 

For more than 21 years, he preached and 

PRACTISED the Gospel in this parish. 



"The memory of the just is blessed." 

Prov. X. y. 

For a time the life of the Church seemed to lie with 
him in the coffin. The exigency was met by supplies, 
the first, Rev. Isaac S. Ketchum, preaching in the 
new church on October 25th. Richard A. Striker 
was appointed to provide a preacher for the ensu- 
ing Sabbath and application was made to the Classis, 
which supplied these clergymen: Drs. DeWitt, Brown- 
lee, Knox, Kuypers, and Marcellus officiated during 
November; Rev. Messrs. Smith, John FreHnghuysen 




Portrait and signature of Rev. Francis M. Kip, D.D., by courtesy of J. B. 
Vandervoort, Esq. 



^be Cburcb at Ibarsenville 207 

Jackson, van Pelt, and Dubois in December; Dr. 
Broadhead and Messrs. Baldwin, van Hook, and De- 
Witt in January, 1830, and Drs. Brownlee and Kuypers 
and Messrs. van Hook and Vermeule in February, 
At the request of Mrs. Gunn, the grates, etc., in the 
parsonage were purchased of her and the cloth around 
the pulpit, over which her husband had so long min- 
istered, was made a gift. In April, 1830, she applied 
for a certificate of dismission, which was granted. 
During this sad period, the officers met at the Har- 
sen Mansion at each session, a home feeling having 
engendered a desire to return to the birthplace of 
the organization. In June, Quackenbush and R. A. 
Striker were chosen to wait on the families of the 
congregation holding pews, to obtain their sentiments 
towards calling some one of the candidates heard, 
and to ascertain if Post and David Cargill would serve 
if elected. 

Another evidence of Harsen's liberality presented 
itself in July. The Consistory was in his debt to the 
amount of some I400 with interest from September 
I, 1823, and a bond had been approved and authorized 
to be given him therefor in 1825, but had never been 
delivered. He now presented the claim and interest 
to the Consistory, with the gratitude of that body. 

XLbc SeconD /iRinister 

The consensus of opinion in the congregation having 
been found to favor Rev. Francis Marschalk Kip, a call 
was prepared "taken from the printed form adopted 
by the Dutch Church." It provided for the payment 
of a salary of $500, and that he should live in the 
parsonage or in the vicinity. This call issued from 
Prall's residence in town on July 8, 1830. The par- 



2o8 ^be 1Rew l?orft of jjeaterba^ 

sonage, which had not been used since Doctor Gunn 
removed therefrom, was now put in thorough repair 
in the event that the new pastor should elect to reside 
there. Donations therefor were received from John 
Beekman, John Clendining, and Alderman Harsen 
among others. The church was given a complete 
cleaning and a new singing leader engaged. The call 
was accepted and the new minister was present for the 
first time at a meeting of August i6th, at Prall's. 
Bom in New York city, Aug. 7, 1807, he was graduated 
from Columbia College in 1826, from the New Bruns- 
wick Seminary in 1830, and was licensed by the Classis 
of New York. This was his first charge. Harsen, 
Quackenbush, and R. A. Striker were chosen Elders 
and John Parks, John A. Striker, and David Patterson 
Deacons on December ist. This completed the Board, 
James Striker having been too ill to attend for some 
two years. Committee appointed to call on new 
residents met with good results and was made perma- 
nent for the summer in March, 1831. R. A. Striker 
selected to attend Classis for the first time. The 
Domine at a special meeting held at Harsen's Septem- 
ber 27th resigned his call, after a service of only 
thirteen months. In accepting the resignation this 
expression of the Consistory's sentiments was spread 
on the minutes: 

Resolved that, while in the providence of God we have 
been called upon to consent that the tie between us and our 
Pastor, the Rev. Francis M. Kip, be dissolved, it is with 
feelings of love and good will as well as with those of regret. 
And it is our fervent prayer and sincere desire that wherever 
God may cast his future lot, a blessing may attend upon 
him and his future labors in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. 



^be Cburcb at Ibarsenville 209 

Immediately on leaving here Domine Kip became 
pastor of the Ninth Street Church, which he served 
five years. His Alma Mater conferred the degree of 
S.T.D. upon him in 1857 and he became a Trustee 
of the Denomination in i860. He is said to have been 
unassuming in manner, kind of heart, and devoted to 
his calling. An excellent historian and theologian, 
he was well versed in ancient languages and a great 
antiquarian. 

^be ^bir& /minister 

R, A. Striker and Patterson were appointed a com- 
mittee to wait upon the Rev. William Labagh with pow- 
er to engage him for six months from October ist. He 
was the son of John J. Labagh who had been Assistant 
Alderman of the First Ward from 183 1-3, was at this 
time Alderman of the same ward, and again represented 
it in 1840. At the meeting which assembled at Har- 
sen's in January, 1832, the minister was present and 
accepted. R. A. Striker resigned as Clerk and Treas- 
urer and his brother John H. Striker was elected to 
fill both offices. Mr. Labagh gave much satisfaction, 
but on the expiration of his term it was deemed wise 
to settle a permanent pastor, and a committee was 
nominated to find the proper individual. In May, 
Rev. John AlBurtis was decided on. A Columbia 
graduate, he was educated for the ministry at the 
Seminary in New Brunswick and licensed by the 
Classis in that place in 181 7. Called for three years 
at the same compensation, he moved with his family 
into the parsonage. In January, 1833, the spire of 
the old church was struck by lightning and burned. 
Rev. Dr. Howard Crosby was then a lad at the boarding 
school presided over by Rev. Mr. Huddart. From his 



2IO Zhc "Wew l?ork of ^C6tctt>w^ 

bedroom window he saw the fire. Because of this 
loss, afternoon services in the new edifice were sub- 
stituted for the usual evening service at the old one. 
Mr. AlBurtis did not remain his full term with the 
Church. He expressed his desire to retire in October, 

1834, and on November 28th he was released from all 
connection therewith. A hiatus of six months in- 
tervened before a permanent pastor was selected. 

Xlbe ffourtb /Bbfnister 

At a session held at the Harsen Mansion on May 26, 

1835, the Rev. Francis M. Kip, being present by- 
invitation, was requested to draft a call to the Rev. 
Enoch van Aken, at a salary of $800 and the free 
use of the parsonage. He had been for a short space 
connected with the church at Kinderhook, Columbia 
Co., N. Y. He came to Bloomingdale at the age of 
twenty-six, full of courage and evangelical spirit, and 
was destined to make this pastorate his life work. 
For fifty years he went in and out among his people, 
bearing the burdens of an uphill fight for the right 
and the preservation of The Church of the Village. 
Until now it had been the religious and social centre 
of a homogeneous community numbering some two 
thousand souls. Parishioners gathered here from all 
surrounding quarters — some from a distance of ten 
miles north, says The History of Eighty Years. But 
with the upward growth of the city and the consequent 
removal of downtown churches in the wake of popula- 
tion, together with the religious accommodations provid- 
ed in the outlying districts, the more remote church- 
goers dropped away into local houses of worship. An 
important element of strength was thus lost to Bloom- 
ingdale. Worse still, the character of the community 




(^* T^^t^i^ij^^t. 



Portrait and signature of Rev. Enoch Van Aken 



^be Cburcl) at Ibareenville 211 

was disastrously changing. Death, removal, the vicissi- 
tudes of time were busy. The old families were 
thinning out. Their farms were beginning to be cut 
up into imaginary city lots. Assessors and Street 
Commissioners, like an invading army, quartered 
themselves on the land. Following in their track 
came a swarm of squatter sovereigns in the shape of 
newly arrived immigrants. These were utterly un- 
sympathetic with the old church life of the hamlet. 
This was the condition which confronted the new 
pastor. When the church records were rectified, 
there were just twenty-eight members in full standing. 
The meeting at which Domine van Aken was called 
was the last which assembled at the Harsen Mansion. 
The Elder had died full of years — all of honor — prior 
to the next session, and thus passed away the last of the 
original ofificers of the Church. His valuable advice 
and assistance were missed at this juncture. This 
item from his will closes the long series of contributions 
which he delighted to shower upon his beloved 
Church : 

I order and direct my said executors as soon as con- 
veniently may be after my decease to invest out of my 
personal estate a sum of money sufficient to produce the 
yearly income of one hundred dollars and that they pay 
the said sum yearly and every year for the period of twelve 
years from the time of such investment to the Corpora- 
tion styled "The Church at Harsenville according to the 
doctrine and discipline of the Synod of Dort," such stim to 
be applied by said incorporation towards the repairs of 
their church edifice, parsonage and the fences enclosing the 
same and I do order and direct that after the expiration of 
the said period of twelve years the said principal sum so 
invested shall form part of my residuary personal estate 
to be applied and go as by me hereafter directed. 



212 



Zhe 1Rew ^ovh of IJesterba^ 



The donations made by this devoted Christian aggre- 
gated $217,913.50, made up as follows: 

1 806. Conveyance of original site, sold i860 for $ 6000 
1809. " " parsonage acre, ^ thereof 

between 72d & 73d Sts., sold i860 for 80,000 

balance between 71st & 7 2d Sts., sold 

1886 for 130,000 

1830. Donation of claims against Consistory 513.50 

1835. Bequest 1200 

To this should be added two lots of the Beekman 
bequest which were sold in 182 1, for $200, the proceeds 
of which were presented to the Consistory. 

New hands were raised up to aid the pastor. In 
August, Quackenbush was re-elected and Parks elected 
Elders, the latter in place of Harsen, and Patterson 
and J. H. Striker were chosen Deacons. Church work 
was taken up with a vim. The administration of the 
sacrament was fixed for next Sabbath week, prayer 
meetings were scheduled for Wednesday evenings and 
a Bible class on Simday evening opened. The sexton 
had resigned and another was to be sought. Parks 
and Striker were appointed to view the old church 
ground, and the latter to obtain a quitclaim thereof 
from Harsen's heirs. The first meeting at John 
Parks' residence took place on September 2d. Striker 
was appointed to apply to the Board of Domestic 
Missions for aid; the application resulted in an allow- 
ance of $200 for the coming year. It was decided 
to let the old ground and Secretary Striker was dele- 
gated to do so. Patterson and Striker were elected 
Elders, and David Law and Ackerly Fitch Deacons 
on April ist, 1837. Parks was absent from the meeting 
in October, and died shortly thereafter. Law was 



tTbe Cburcb at Ibareenville 213 

appointed Treasurer. It was not until June of the 
following year that all the vacancies in the Consistory- 
were filled. Then Caspar Meier was elected Elder to 
fill Striker's place, who had removed from the city, 
and Cornelius Westerfield and Thomas J. Emmons, 
Deacons. The date of the election thereafter was set 
for the third Monday in July of each year. Meier 
became Secretary in October and the Board met at 
his residence on the 23d. Jordan Mott, David 
Cargill, Gerard Willam Livingston, Caspar Meier, and 
the Pastor were appointed to draw a petition to the 
Church in town, asking assistance, and Meier, Cargill, 
and Westerfield to apply to the heirs of Harsen for a 
release of the parsonage property. In February, 1839, 
Pelatiah Perit was added to the committee, with 
Livingston, Cargill, and Mott, to appear before the 
Collegiate Church officers, the result of which was an 
appropriation of $500. Emmons was designated in 
April to arrange the letting of the church lot in the 
village. In July, for the second time, this matter was 
deferred. An examination was to be made to see if 
any of the church land lay in the street. It being 
found that it did, the sexton was directed not to dig 
graves thereon. An addition to the burying ground 
was again suggested in January, 1840. Perit, Charles 
Darke, and Emmons were to see to repairs to cupola 
and roof in April. Westerfield and Livingston were 
elected Elders in July, and Emmons and John Waite 
Deacons. Livingston declined at this time. Waite 
became Treasurer. Inquiry was to be made con- 
cerning a strip of ground adjacent to the church in 
the rear, for burial purposes. 

Consistory met at Waite' s residence the first time 
in November, 1841. Livingston and John N. Boyd 



214 Zhc 1Rew IJork of IpesterOai? 

were elected Elders in April 1842. Henry Quick was 
chosen Deacon. The long-contemplated expediency 
of a Public vault became pressing this year. Wester- 
field and Waite were appointed to make inquiries con- 
cerning it. In September, Livingston and Emmons, a 
building committee appointed for the purpose, executed 
a contract for its construction at a cost of $325. 
So much dampness was found in the present vault 
that it was necessary to blast out a drain therefrom 
to carry off the water to the Road. The above officers 
were accordingly empowered in April, 1843, to proceed 
with the work. They were also required to draft 
new by-laws for the Consistory. These are entered 
in full on the records, having been adopted in May. 
Regular meetings were set for the second Monday in 
January, April, July, and October "at such place as 
shall be mutually agreed upon." The duties of the 
Treasurer and Secretary were detailed. Officers of the 
Consistory were to be chosen at the July meeting. In 
that month, William Holmes was elected Elder and 
Peter Rennie, Deacon, who was installed on November 
12th. An extra session was held the same month at 
Boyd's whereat he was made Secretary, Westerfield 
having resigned. Emmons was appointed Treasurer 
in place of Waite. Livingston to attend Classis. 

Emmons and Rennie, by appointment in July, 1845, 
announced that they had rented the old site in the 
village adjoining John Jasper's property to him at 
$7.50 a year during the pleasure of the Board. Land 
was certainly a drug in those days. This property 
commenced at a point in the line of the lot occupied 
by said Jasper on the Bloomingdale Road, ran westerly 
eighty feet, thence northeasterly thirty-five feet, 
thence easterly sixty-six feet to the Road and thence 



Zhc Cburcb at Ibareenville 215 

southerly along said Road fifty-five feet to the place 
of beginning, unless the western boundary be changed 
by the opening of Tenth Avenue. In November, 
John Read made an offer therefor for the purpose of 
building thereon, and on December 2d a lease to 
him for seven years at $20 per annum was signed, 
to begin May i, 1846, which provided that no spirituous 
liquors be made or sold on the premises. 

At this time there was no drainage in the village 
and fever and ague prevailed to a very great extent. 
A few blocks to the south of the parsonage there was a 
large pond near present Central Park West. Those 
who lived near by remember how often two or more 
members of a family were seen shaking at the same 
time. Mr. van Aken finally refused to live in the 
parsonage, for his health's sake, and removed there- 
from. The Directory of 1843 gives his address as 
203 West 20th Street. He went to Florida in 1844 
because of failing health, where he spent a year. At 
such times he rented the parsonage. During his ab- 
sence the pulpit was supplied by the Rev. Mr. Robinson 
and Dr. Vermeule. The kind, genial bearing of the 
latter is recalled. He had a fund of humor, in which, 
however, he never indulged at the sacred desk. With 
always a kind word for the young people, he won the 
hearts of all during the short time he was there. The 
land-owners in the neighborhood were averse to the cir- 
culation of the unfavorable report respecting the health- 
fulness of the village and the removal of so 
conspicuous a man as the minister caused some dis- 
satisfaction among them. 

It got to be neighborhood talk largely because of 
an infliction of illness which occurred a few years 
previously, by which whole families, in every direction, 



2i6 Zl)c IRevp ©ork of IJesterba^ 

were prostrated. Domine van Aken used it to point a 
moral in his discourses, and these, instead of allaying, 
added fuel. We are in possession of a letter from the 
pastor to one of our relatives, dated September, 1845, 
in which he defends his course by asserting that God 
would have held him guilty had he suffered that most 
severe dispensation of Providence to pass without 
warning the people to whom He had commissioned 
him to preach, to take heed thereto and profit thereby. 
It got to be common report that the pastor had removed 
because of this sickly condition, and many would-be 
comers to the village were frightened away because 
of this rumor and the lasting impression it made. It 
is asserted that it was never proclaimed from the pulpit 
that such illness was caused by the surroundings. At 
the same time sickness was prevalent, let the cause 
be what it might. The Domine, however, did not 
remove for the alleged reason; the state of his limgs 
required he should locate where the congested districts 
would prevent the cold river air from penetrating, 
and his Consistory approved his course. He wrote at 
this time that he hoped his health would warrant his 
return to Blomingdale within two years. So much 
for this, which caused somewhat of a tempest in a 
thimble at the time and proved in a manner how large 
an influence the Church really wielded. While on the 
subject of the pastor it seems appropriate to add here 
some expressions in one of his letters which give a 
glimpse of his inner consciousness and character. He 
says : 

I conceive it to be my duty to preach the word of God 
with all plainness and to proclaim the whole counsel of 
God and to withhold nothing. This is the express com- 
m.and of Jesus, and I have no inclination to disobey it lest 



^be Cburcb at Ibar^envUle 217 

the blood of souls be found upon my skirts, and especially 
since my recent affliction, have I felt the more the weight 
of my responsibility and most earnestly prayed that I 
might be enabled to preach with increased faithfulness 
and force His whole truth. In the old time there were 
those who did not wish to hear the whole word of God, and 
some false prophets, to please them, prophesied only 
smooth things. You will recollect how awful were the 
judgments in which God denounced these prophets. I 
have therefore endeavored to rouse all who heard me to a 
sense of their whole duty to God and men, and have en- 
deavored to sweep away every false hope upon which any 
might rest. In the particular discourse you mention I 
drew as plainly as I was able the line of distinction between 
that true ground of hope which is connected with a right 
zeal for God and those false grounds which are connected 
with the various kinds of spurious zeal which men profess. 
God might overrule these things for good to His church, 
but as far as the individuals themselves are concerned the 
latter motives cannot be approved in the sight of God. 
They must have better ones than these if they would hope 
to be saved. It was for the truth's sake that Paul was 
scourged and stoned and cast into prison. It was for this 
very reason that he was finally put to death, for this very 
reason all the apostles suffered; and so of our Lord and 
Saviour — men hated and crucified Him because he preached 
the truth. My life work is the endeavor to preach faith- 
fully His message. 

More quotations from Domine van Aken's letters 
could be given. This is sufficient to show his zeal in 
going about his Master's business. 

A regular meeting of the Consistory was held on 
April 9, 1846, at the Cozine Mansion, which stood at 
Eighth Avenue between 53d and 54th Streets. Mrs. 
Cozine was an own cousin of Jacob Harsen and the 
pastor came to regard this as his home. With his 



2i8 Zbc IRew l?ork of l^eeterba^ 

wife and their son Gulick, he, for many years, passed 
the winters in this abode. During the summer the 
parsonage house, the barn, and fences were put in 
repair, and a brick cistern was authorized to be built. 
After these improvements, the minister spent his 
winters there. In 1847, the Collegiate Church again 
rendered assistance to the extent of $1600 and in 
October General Striker, Emmons, and Rennie took 
in charge the solicitation of the usual fall contributions 
to the funds. Bloomingdale Road was widened in 1849 
and an award was granted to the Church, of $265. 

Perhaps the church was more strict in those days 
than later in the matter of watching the walk and con- 
versation of members. Anyway there seemed to be 
an avalanche of cases thought to require discipline 
running through the years from 1838 to 1850. The 
unchristian and criminal conduct of two individuals 
was the cause of an investigation in the first year 
mentioned. This case was the topic of a number of 
sessions, and resulted in a suspension of the back- 
sliders. Another was found guilty of profaning the 
Sabbath by being found on a number of occasions 
frequenting "the Public House." A committee was 
appointed in 1842, to endeavor to reconcile two parties. 
A married couple were the subject of a report, circulat- 
ing about the neighborhood, of "inconsistent walk" 
and were cited before the Consistory, where they were 
admonished. Two male members sinned by indulging 
in "offensive, opprobrious, brawling and boisterous 
conduct" after service, in the hearing of a portion of 
the congregation, to the great scandal of religion, and 
of repeating such gross misconduct in the afternoon 
of Communion Sabbath. They had been twice notified 
to appear before the Board, the one to answer charges 



Q/I^TtA 



Marf.tn 






Orphai^ 



SBojfe 






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'pulpit 



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ftivmnci 


































Wood 
CCcye 











jr,„ 


l«r* 


Jrivingistin. 


StrifCer 


Tost 






































a 

stave 









MeServccL 



Jot 



Colore<3, people 



TfeservecL 



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"Vestihule 



m] Yestihvde, ^Q YeatlhuU 



Jfaricrif 

D 

JKertMmant 



SeeKman, 



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Tkril* 



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Orfihi 



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Cbloomirv^da,U (J^crt^- 
'crloT oflUc Church lor'ior To iha dltcratjons 



t^'^dc In /8S^. 
219 



220 



V^c tioxf Uorft of IPeeterbai? 



of dnmkenness, profanity, and unbecoming deportment; 
and the other, of profanity, brawling, abusive, and im- 
christian conduct. They were accordingly suspended. 
To a committee who undertook in a kind and becoming 
manner to notify them of this action, they added in- 
sult to injury. The Consistory thereupon asked au- 
thority of Classis to excommunicate them. Finally, 
a member, charged with immoral conduct, confessed 



























^T^cun, 












































toAtyijHj 











sorrow for his sin, with the hope through grace to 
obtain pardon and forgiveness from his God. After a 
solemn admonition, he was advised to abstain from 
the communion table until he should by his walk and 
conversation give evidence of reformation. 

The parsonage was painted in December, 1852. 



^be Cburcb at IbarsenvUIe 



221 



Emmons was elected Elder and Duncan Macfarlan 
Deacon in January, 1854. The Church had for so long 
been known as the Bloomingdale Church, both locally 
and in the minutes, its corporate name notwithstand- 
ing, that the question of changing the name in order 
to fit the popular parlance was raised. It was voted 
down on April loth. It was reported to Classis on the 
1 8th that the congregation was composed of sixty 
families with an attendance of three hundred, that 
the population dependent for ministerial attention 
numbered nearly two thousand and that there were 
seventy children in the Sabbath-school. 

In December, 1854, a store was rented at Broadway 
and Amity Street (now Third) and here a fair was held, 
which proved successful. With the money thus 
acquired, the church was renovated. The straight- 
back pews were lowered and made more comfortable, 
the pulpit also lowered, the church carpeted, and an 
organ — the first musical instrument to be introduced — 
was installed in the gallery. From a number of plans 
submitted by old communicants the diagram repro- 
duced has been prepared, showing the interior prior 
to the alterations, with some of the changes made 
this year. It was generally the custom in the Re- 
formed Church to reserve free pews for the colored 
people. Those shown on the plan had to be removed, 
in order that place be made for the erection of stoves. 



VI 

Ube Cburcb at Ibarsenville 

1855-1906 

3f itt^ years had now passed into history since the 
organization. During this protracted period three 
ministers had labored successfully in the vineyard 
and Domine van Aken had been pastor for twenty 
years. His ministry had been a source of blessing to 
a community largely changed from its original condi- 
tion. With the opening of the second half century 
new elements had to be catered to and new associations 
met, occasioned by the absorption of the locaHty into 
the city and the change caused by altered surroundings. 
The Church continued to be the only one of any de- 
nomination in this part of Bloomingdale if we except 
the embryo society known at its inception as * * Pelatiah 
Perit's church," and much was expected of it as a 
centre of godly influence and righteousness. For a 
number of years at this stage it enjoyed the blessing 
of having no history worthy of record. 

Robert Carss was elected deacon in 1858. Macfarlan 
resigned in April and William Kelly was selected to 
fill his place in January, 1859. To the preparatory 
service held in the Church February 3, i860, was un- 
ited the Classical Visitation. A sermon was preached 



^be dburcb at IbareenvUle 



223 



by Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Vermilye and an address 
delivered by the Rev. Abraham R. van Nest. A 
number of members were then inducted. 

The plot on which the first edifice was erected had 
been leased, as we have seen, to John Read. The 
term of seven years was about to expire when a proposi- 
tion was made to said lessee and his sisters, the Misses 
Read, that a renewal of one year would be granted 
at $50, provided possession would be given on the 




Jo f^, Street 



receiptfof three months' written notice. Should a sale 
be made during the year, no rent would be demanded. 
Although this proposition was accepted, the Consistory 
decided in 1854 to make a straight lease at $75 per 
annum. On July 18, i860, it was resolved to sell a 
part of the Church's realty. This was found neces- 
sary because of the large indebtedness for assessments. 
Streets and avenues were being cut through at an 
extravagant rate. Heavy assessments fell on the 



2 24 Zhc IWew l?orft of l?e6tert)ai? 

abutting property accordingly. Domine van Aken 
and Secretary Boyd were authorized to apply to the 
Supreme Court for permission to sell. Tenth Avenue 
had been opened and the boundaries changed from 
those described in 1846 when first leased to Read. The 
land was now bounded as shown by plan on page 223. 

This petition recited that the Church was situated 
in the suburbs in the midst of a poor, fluctuating, and 
mostly foreign population, to a great extent the ob- 
jects of charity rather than contributors to the main- 
tenance of said church or of the worship therein ; that 
the petitioners were indebted in the sum of $3000 and 
upwards for taxes and assessments and for debts 
incurred for the preservation of their property; that 
the land belonging to them was unimproved and un- 
productive and that they had been offered for the 
real estate shown on the above diagram $6000, its full 
value, and prayed that an order be issued permitting 
such sale. The petition was granted by Justice 
Daniel P. Ingraham at a special term held July 14th. 
Deed was executed and delivered to the purchaser, 
Newbold Lawrence (L. 821, Conv. 332). This land 
now forms a portion of the site of the Nevada apart- 
ment house. From the proceeds of the sale the out- 
standing obligations were met and $1400 invested on 
bond and mortgage by the Pastor and Elder Emmons 
under instruction, as directed by the order. 

In anticipation of this sale, and in order to clear the 
title of all the church land derived from Jacob Harsen, 
the Consistory had a conveyance drawn dated Feb. ist, 
i860, which was executed by the heirs of said Har- 
sen, whereby and wherein they quitclaimed the above 
land and also the parsonage plot, the latter by this 
description: Beginning at a point in the northerly 



Zhc Cburcb at Ibarsenville 225 

line of 71st Street distant 38.4 feet easterly from the 
intersection of said northerly line of 71st Street with 
the easterly line of Ninth Avenue, thence running 
easterly on the northerly line of 71st Street 100 feet, 
thence northerly 204.4 feet to a point in the southerly 
line of 7 2d Street, distant 143.5 feet easterly from the 
intersection of the said southerly line of 7 2d Street and 
the easterly line of Ninth Avenue, thence westerly 
on said southerly line of 7 2d Street 100 feet, thence 
southerly 204.4 feet to the point in the northerly line 
of 71st Street, the place of beginning. Also all that 
other lot beginning at a point in the northerly line of 
7 2d Street at a point distant 46 feet easterly from the 
intersection of the said northerly line of 7 2d Street 
with the easterly line of Ninth Avenue, thence running 
easterly on said northerly line of 7 2d Street 100 feet, 
thence northerly 204.4 feet to a point in the southerly 
line of 73d Street, distant 15 1.2 feet easterly from the 
intersection of said southerly line of 73d Street and 
said easterly line of Ninth Avenue, thence westerly on 
said southerly line of 73d Street 100 feet, thence 
southerly 204.4 feet to the point in the said northerly 
line of 7 2d Street, the place of beginning (L, 851. Con v. 
5) . The same premises as were conveyed to the Church 
by deed, dated September, 16, 1809, by Jacob Harsen. 
The Domine had now served the Church for a 
quarter of a century. His salary had remained at the 
same figure. As time passed he had expended sums 
at various times for matters which were too small in 
themselves to bring to the attention of the Consistory. 
These now aggregated a considerable sum. It was 
recalled at the meeting held at the Church on August 
4th that the pastor had performed a vast amount 
of extra labor which had contributed materially to 



226 Zbc IRcw l?ork of l^eeterbai? 

his expenditure, and which became necessary by the 
constant Habilities of the large church estate to taxes 
and assessments and by the peculiar character of the 
population of Bloomingdale. The whole district north 
of 59th Street to and beyond the Church had at this 
period become a shanty town. That this may be 
realized to better advantage, a view has been pre- 
sented of this territory, showing the Church in the 
distance. This entire strip of land originally formed 
a portion of the Somerindyck farm. Great advan- 
tage had been reaped through the pastor's exertions, 
and property which, at the beginning of his ministry, 
was worth, irrespective of the buUdings, possibly 
two thousand dollars had been thereby preserved. 
Its present value was thought to approximate fifty 
thousand dollars. It was estimated that five hundred 
doUars had been so spent, and this amount was handed 
him in payment of "a just debt." In consideration of 
the increased cost of living and of the fact that other 
employments had been remunerated by large additions 
to former compensations, together with the generally 
acknowledged principle of justice applied by the 
Saviour himself to the ministry, that "the laborer is 
worthy of his hire, " with the additional behest of the 
Apostle Paul, to wit, "Even so hath the Lord ordained 
that they who preach the Gospel should live by the 
Gospel," an increase of salary was taken under advise- 
ment. After due consideration and conversation 
with members of the congregation, it was fixed at 
$2500 and the use of the parsonage, on February 
I, 1861. 

The grading of Broadway cut the original bed of the 
Road so deep that the Church was left standing high 
above the curb. The greensward disappeared and 



Zbc Cburcb at Ibarsenvlllc 227 

steps were required for proper access. A new fence, 
stone walk, and wooden steps were constructed in 
January, 1861, at a cost of $400. In 1865, these 
wooden steps, having decayed, were replaced by stone 
ones. Robert Carss was elected Elder and George 
Robertson Deacon. So-called improvements, long in 
advance of need, kept on apace. Central Park was 
being laid out. Assessments, hill-high already, con- 
tinued to pile up toward the sky. Fortunate indeed 
was it that taxes on the church edifice itself could not 
be levied. By Subdivision 3 of Section 4, Title i, Chap- 
ter 13 of Part I St of the Revised Statutes every build- 
ing for public worship and every schoolhouse or other 
seminary of learning were exempted from taxation. 
An amendment was passed April 14, 1852, limiting 
its provisions in the city of New York to buildings used 
exclusively for such purposes and exclusively the 
property of a religious society or of the New York 
Public School Society. In Jime of 1861 notice was re- 
ceived from the Commissioners of Estimate and Assess- 
ment of a lien for the opening of 68th Street. The 
Consistory passed a formal protest to be forwarded to 
said Commissioners against the urgency of such an ex- 
travagant and imreasonable enterprise in the present 
time of depression and embarrassment caused by the 
coming war. It was asserted that the land for the 
street had been ceded to the city by Jacob Harsen and 
that the residue of the property-owners between 
Broadway and Eighth Avenue were willing to deed 
property for the extension thereof, thereby rendering 
these proceedings unnecessary; that the plot assessed 
was used as a cemetery and was not susceptible to 
benefit, on which basis assessments can only be laid; 
that by State law it cannot be sold and by prohibitory 



228 ^e View l^orli of ^eetcv^w^ 

ordinance of the Common Council cannot be used for 
burial purposes, and is therefor held in trust by the 
Church as a repository for the dead; that an assess- 
ment of this cemetery while it can derive no benefit 
would be manifestly unjust and would involve a 
liability to sale of the bones and dust solemnly de- 
posited there, which would be revolting to the sensitive 
or Christian mind. Domine van Aken and Elder 
Emmons were authorized and directed to take all 
necessary steps to oppose and stop the assessment for 
opening said street and to execute all necessary papers 
under the seal of the Church. This protest is given 
in detail because it serves as an example of the methods 
pursued in other cases in endeavors to avoid impending 
liens. The Common Council was induced after much 
labor to remit the taxes of i860, '61, and '62 which the 
Mayor had ratified in January, 1863. The interest, 
however, had to be met. George H. Pimley and Jonas 
Hanaway were elected deacons at this session, the 
former in place of George Robertson. The Church 
was insured against fire in May, for $5000, and the 
parsonage for $ 1000 — ^the first mention of such action 
in the minutes. Assessment for the grading of 71st 
Street from Broadway to Eighth Avenue was con- 
firmed October 9, 1864, and for grading Broadway 
from 59th to 70th Streets, January 23, 1865. These 
dates are preserved as a matter of historic interest 
to the locality. Early in 1867, the construction of the 
Boulevard was undertaken. The straightening and 
widening of Broadway swung the bed of the new street 
much further to the east and made it necessary to 
demolish the church edifice. The pastor's talent now 
again came to the fore. He conferred with the authori- 
ties having the improvement in charge, gave a descrip- 










THE CHURCH AT HARSENVILLE, SECOND HOUSE OF WORSHIP, 186S 
Showing the encroaching "shanty-town" 



^be Cburcb at Ibarsenvllle 229 

tion of the property to be affected by it, and urged 
a fair and equitable consideration therefor, estimating 
the damages at $40,000 for the ground and $60,000 for 
the building. 

Jonas Hanaway declined to serve longer as Deacon 
and on August 3, 1867, Charles Wood was elected. 
John K. Curtis became Elder. Emmons and Mitchell 
were re-elected. One of the mortgages was paid in 
January, 1868. The proceeds were invested in govern- 
ment bonds. Notice was received this month from 
the Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment, that 
an award of $23,000, for the realty required, was con- 
templated. Objection to the amount was speedily 
made. The Pastor and Emmons were deputized to 
present the communication. This they did to such 
advantage that Domine van Aken, Emmons, and Curtis 
were empowered in August to collect from the city 
the amount of $5 7 ,6 1 5 " made to the Church at Harsen- 
ville for the land taken for the opening of a Public 
Drive from 59th to 155th Streets, known on the Map 
of the Commissioners as Award No. 36." The money 
was received in September. After paying the arrears 
of taxes and assessments and the outstanding obliga- 
tions, nearly $41,000 remained. Thirty thousand 
dollars was invested in mortgages on real estate and 
the balance put at interest in different savings banks. 
The handling of this one transaction with the city 
exhibited to a nicety the Domine's shrewdness of man- 
agement. Some dissatisfaction was evinced by the 
Consistory of the Collegiate Church at the reception of 
the award without consultation with them and their 
consent. Two loans, made respectively in 1839 ^^^ 
1847, were still owing them, and, although the terms 
under which the collateral was held provided that the 



230 Zhe •Wew l?orft of lPe0ter^al^ 

debt fell due only in the event of the property being 
alienated from the denomination and was consequently 
not collectible at this time, the Church made a proposi- 
tion to pay the principal. The Consistory in town did 
not care to take the money and the other alternative 
arose of reviving one of the obligations. Accordingly 
permission was obtained from the Supreme Court to 
mortgage the land remaining after the widening of the 
Road. This instrument was to contain provisions 
that the amount shall be payable whenever the 
Church should cease to be subordinate to the General 
Synod and other intermediate judicatories of the 
Reformed Dutch Church in America, or whenever the 
said ground should be disposed of by the mortgagor. 
Before the new document was delivered, the pastor 
again endeavored to have the principal accepted in 
full satisfaction, which method was much preferred in 
order that future trouble be avoided. This plan was 
definitely declined and a bond and mortgage executed, 
bearing date June 24, 1870, was substituted for the 
original instrument. Thus this unhappy controversy 
was allayed for the present. 

What was intended to be the last service was held 
on November 8, 1868. Mrs. Despard's account of this 
pathetic occasion begins with these words ' ' To-day 
I went to hear the last sermon which would be preached 
in the Bloomingdale Church," and continues : 

The city is about to take the ground on which it stands 
for the new Boulevard and Pastor van Aken closes the 
labors begun here in 1835. . . . In his discourse Mr. van 
Aken spoke most reverently of the first pastor, the Rev. 
Alexander Gunn, " an able preacher, faithful shepherd, and 
true historian. The author of the life of Dr. Livingston, 
with which was interwoven the history of the Reformed 



Zbc Cburcb at IbarsenvUlc 231 

Dutch Church in America, he was a man of careful research 
and an unbiased narrator of facts, who understood well 
to blend and combine in such a manner as to impart 
pleasure to the reader, while he did full justice to his 
subject and imparted useful information." . . . People 
came to worship here from below the old House of Refuge 
to Manhattanville and from the North to the East river. 
One of the earliest Sunday-schools was established here. 
"The present Sabbath-school of this church had its origin 
half a century back. It commenced about the beginning 
of Sabbath-schools in this city and had been perpetuated 
in unbroken succession. The church then was the centre 
of attraction and of influence in a large region." It was 
very touching to hear the aged minister describe the beauty 
of the natural surroundings of his beloved house of worship, 
"romantically situated, in its newness and freshness, on one 
of the most beautiful roads of the land, winding its way 
among stately trees interspersed with smaller growth and 
with flowers in their native charms in such great profusion 
as to suggest appropriately the name of Bloomingdale for 
the region which they graced. Then the verdant lawns, 
the pastures, the cultured grounds about the mansions of 
proprietors residing here, increased the charm and en- 
hanced the pleasure. The sweet tones of the bell resounded 
over many a soft green hill and pleasant homestead; and 
now," continued the white-haired preacher, " we part with 
all — the sacred house, the seats, the aisles, the desk — ^my 
own dear home, your doom is sealed. Here shall I speak 
no more to warn, entreat, intercede and console. Fare- 
well, dear walls, so well founded and so strong the storms 
of centuries might have left you unmoved. In this land of 
change and action there is no resting-place for the aged 
among humanity, for the venerable among their institu- 
tions, and only in looking upward to the everlasting hills 
can the spirit find its rest." The small congregation were 
very grave and still as we turned to leave the building and 
I pondered, sitting under the shadow of the great button- 



232 Zhc Mcxo 13orft of ^cetcvbw^ 

wood tree in the churchyard, on the contrast between the 
paradise of bloom and verdure amidst which the church 
was built and the forlorn state of transition upon which its 
last days were looking. In the railed square of this small 
burying ground we notice the tomb of James Striker, i8i 6; 
the family vault of the Rev. Alexander Gunn and Ichabod 
Prall — the remains of the deceased are removed, but the 
marble slabs remain. There are a few locust-trees, an 
apple-tree and a button-ball. The new Boulevard is being 
opened and much disturbance of rocks and trees ensues 
thereupon. 

In the far-off past we too see again the gatherings 
of the quiet orderly congregation; we hear the voice 
of the good old father who ministered in holy things; 
we sit by the open window and look out upon the green 
graves thickly strewn round the old meeting-house ; the 
warbling of the feathered songsters in the grove falls 
softly on memory's ear. The voice of prayer is hushed 
and the voice of praise ascends. Alas! these voices 
once attuned on earth are with scarce an exception 
now attuned to more celestial music. 

It was found, however, that the edifice could remain 
intact a few months longer, and services continued to 
be held there until the first Sabbath in March, 1869, 
when the final one occurred. The furniture of the 
Church was removed in part to the parsonage and 
partly to "Rosevale," the residence of General Striker, 
The walls of the old edifice were so solid that dynamite 
was required to blast them asunder. Particles flew in 
all directions to the sorrow of the parishioners who 
stood about with no inclination to restrain their tears. 
With its quaint tower, surmounted by a cupola, once 
shaded by great trees and surrounded by green mounds 
and white head-stones of its quiet little churchyard, 



~ - . too — ^ 



^ K 100 



Old Dnc East •iCcm^T^y 



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OWING THE Of^l* 
^^ -GINAL. ANO Pf^fSENT 

OuTtlNCS OP Site orrnc 

Diagram of site of Second House of Worship, from T/ie History of Eighty 

Years 



^be Cburcb at IbarecnvUle 233 

the building, once a picturesque feature in the rural 
scene of what had been in its day a fertile farming 
district, was brought low. The tablet over its portal, 
even, was destroyed in the crash which resulted. The 
east wall was left standing and the burial plot re- 
mained. The New York Times of May i8, 1878, gave 
this description of it, ten years after its abandonment : 

The deserted cemetery is high above the present grade 
of the street, its enclosing wall is gone, and it has become 
a pasture for the goats that infest the vicinity. Its vaults, 
once receptacles for the dead of the families of Striker, 
Mott, Harsen, Meier, Gunn, and Westerfield are now empty, 
yawning chasms and most of the marble head-stones of the 
graves are scattered about the place in broken fragments. 
The shanties of squatters surround it and their children 
dispute its supremacy with the goats. Under the shade 
of an old sycamore and a few locust-trees half a dozen of 
the tomb-stones are still standing, and of these one of the 
most perfect is that of Mrs. Barbara Asten, a large contrib- 
utor to the church's erection, who was buried here in 181 6. 

Immediate steps were taken to provide an ecclesias- 
tical home, which was the Third House of Worship. 
At the session of April 16, 1869, the pastor reported 
that already rocks had been blasted and stones gath- 
ered in preparation for the construction of a temporary 
chapel on the parsonage grounds, entrance to which 
would lead from 71st Street. Plans and specifications 
were approved and directed to be placed in the hands 
of builders for estimates. These were opened on May 
20th and Contractor Purber was found to be the 
lowest bidder at $3475. It was reported in Feb- 
ruary, 1870, that expenses incurred in removing part 
of the old church, in repairing the parsonage, and 
building the chapel had so far amounted to $7985.65. 



234 ^e flew Both of ^eetcvbn^ 

For some two years the Consistory had met at Emmons's 
house, 245 West 20th Street. At the meeting held there 
June 2d, the pastor reported that ' 'our petition to the 
Common Council for donation to enable us to pay 
taxes and assessments on the property of the Church 
had, after long and severe toil for years and repeated 
defeats, become finally successful, and that the Legis- 
lature had authorized the payment of the same and 
that the Deputy Comptroller had promised soon to 
adjust the matter." On the 20th, the following 
preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted, 
viz. : 

Whereas our Pastor, Rev. Enoch van Aken, has for a 
long series of years discharged the duties of the Ministry in 
this Church for which he has never received adequate 
compensation; and whereas in addition to his appropriate 
ministerial labors our said Pastor has had charge of the 
real estate of said church and has with great difficulty, 
much anxiety and toil carried it through all its tax and 
assessment troubles and other liabilities and but for his 
exertions, sacrifices and labors it would have been lost and 
the Church ceased to be; and whereas the Church property 
which at the beginning of his ministry was probably not 
worth over $2000, exclusive of the old building thereon, 
is now estimated to be worth more than $200,000, 

Therefore resolved that we pay out of the money now 
in hand to our said Pastor, in consideration of said services 
and as a just return for benefits which this Church has 
derived from his labors and management of our estate, 
the sum of $15,000. 

The new Church was completed by August, 1870, 
whereupon the Consistory met there on the 6th. By 
the will of Garret H, Striker a bequest was left to 
the Church. The extract therefrom reads as follows: 

"I give and bequeath three thousand dollars to the 



Zl)c Cburcb at Ibareenvllle 235 

incorporated religious society known as the Ministers, 
Deacons and Elders of the Reformed Dutch Church 
at Bloomingdale in the City of New York of which the 
Rev. Enoch van Aken D.D. is now the Pastor, by 
whatever name it may be incorporated, and to the said 
Mr. van Aken I give three thousand dollars." Dated 
17 Jan. 1868 (L. 180, Wills, III.) On August i8, 1870, 
it was announced that the executors were desirous 
of making payment thereof. A special meeting was 
called at Emmons's on the 25th, at which Ambrose K. 
Striker delivered over the legacy to the pastor. This 
was deposited in the Union Trust Company. Domine 
van Aken was requested to thank the family in writing 
for the devise. The Church had at this date over 
$23,000 of funds at interest. In February, 1872, the 
pastor, following his practice, reported that he had 
bid in the old church plot for 1000 years which had 
been sold for unpaid Croton, and that he had succeeded 
in having cancelled "an enormous tax" on the parson- 
age for the same commodity. He further announced 
the following cancellations accomplished by his earnest 
efforts, viz. : taxes for 187 1- 187 2; assessment for open- 
ing 71st Street, confirmed November 9, 186 5; for 
park at junction of Broadway and Ninth Avenue at 
63d Street, confirmed December 22, 1870; for same 
purpose on parsonage; for opening 73d Street, con- 
firmed June 27, 1870; for opening 7 2d Street, con- 
firmed February 4, 1867; for sewer in same street, 
confirmed 1870; for sewer in Tenth Avenue at 70th 
Street, confirmed February i, 1869; for sewer in 71st 
Street, confirmed March 28, 1870; and taxes from 1864 
to 1868. This last item alone aggregated $3687.-15. 
He had also sent a petition to the Commissioners 
for Riverside Park claiming exemption of church 



236 Jihc Bew 13ork of l^eeterba^ 

property and had had several interviews with them, 
the result of which was as yet unknown. And still 
the debts increased as the city grew and improvements 
progressed, and the pastor relaxed not his watchfulness. 
Next he succeeded in having remitted the assessment 
for Riverside Park on the burial ground and the taxes 
of 1873 thereon, on which the city placed a valua- 
tion of $30,000. He reported in January, 1873, nearly 
$6000 of liens yet unpaid and a number in which the 
assessments had not been laid. The new city charter 
was pending in the Legislature. He had circulars 
printed containing reasons for the exemption of burial 
grounds from taxation of any kind and saw that they 
were distributed among the members, and also to 
others prominent in securing the passage of the meas- 
ure, and to the Governor. 

In April the ground surrounding the Church had to 
be regulated because of the grading of 7 2d Street, and 
a fence and a sewer constructed, the insurance re- 
newed, and repairs to the parsonage made. On June 
2ist Mrs. Thomas, the first woman mentioned as 
singer, was paid. The boxes required for human 
remains disturbed and reburied at the time of the 
removal of the old edifice were also paid for. Great 
damage had been done to the parsonage by blasting 
in opening 73d Street, which the contractor had been 
repeatedly urged to repair. No success attended these 
efforts and the work was done. Jacob Flick was 
elected deacon in January, 1874. Services were 
discontinued from the first Sabbath in August to the 
corresponding Sabbath in September. The party 
occupying the parsonage was willing to have it painted 
provided the paint was furnished. This was authorized 
in February, 1875. 




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^be Cburcb at Ibarsenvllle 237 

Some day it will be of interest to recall when the 
street improvements in this part of the city were 
undertaken. To this end dates have been heretofore 
carefully preserved in the text. For analogous reason 
the following liens on the cemetery yet outstanding 
are detailed here: Opening 68th Street from Eighth 
Avenue to the river, confirmed September 3, 1869; 
Public Place at Boulevard and Ninth Avenue at 66th 
Street, June 8, 1872; outlet sewer Broadway through 
66th Street June 30, 187 1; sewer in 67th Street, Ninth 
to Tenth Avenues, August 31, 1874; regulating and 
grading 68th Street, Eighth Avenue to river, September 
25, 1874. The grading of the Boulevard from 59th 
to 155th Streets was completed and the sewering in 
process in 1874. Liens on property between 71st and 
73d Streets: Riverside Park, confirmed August 2, 1872; 
grading 7 2d Street, Eighth Avenue to river, March 
6, 1873; paving 71st, 72d, and 73d Streets was com- 
pleted in 1874, and sewering Ninth Avenue in process. 
New assessments were reported in November, viz.: 
grading 73d Street, confirmed April 22, 1875; paving 
71st Street July 3, 1875. It was announced that the 
assessment for constructing the Boulevard was yet 
in the hands of the Assessor and that objections thereto 
had been presented and urged. A lawyer was now en- 
gaged to institute proceedings to vacate or reduce 
these and previous liens. Many of them had hereto- 
fore been remitted because of informalities in the 
method of assessment, others because of the growing 
popular disposition that property used for religious and 
charitable purposes should be exempt. A recent 
decision of the Court of Appeals exempting certain 
church property raised hopes of final success. Not- 
withstanding earnest effort the Boulevard assessment 



238 TOe t\evo Ifforli of ^cetcv^w^ 

was placed on the burial plot in 1877, amounting to 
$3240.40. It was announced that over $19,000 of 
arrears were remaining on the property, with uncom- 
puted interest thereon. Samuel Hanaway was elected 
deacon in January, 1878. Amount of insurance in- 
creased on Chapel from $3500 to $5000. 

The pastor gave notice on April 11, 1879, that in 
consequence of increasing infirmities the time might 
not be very distant when he should need an assistant 
in the services of the sanctuary. The employment of 
such an assistant was authorized. Although unable to 
minister at the services, the Domine continued to care 
for the spiritual and temporal welfare of the Church. 
At the session held at his residence on February 21, 
1 88 1, he made a statement in which he reported that he 
had endeavored to promote the spiritual interests of the 
parish by private intercourse and correspondence and 
had supplied an assistant who regularly preached 
and performed the usual duties. He had sedulously 
cared for the secular affairs and watched with ceaseless 
vigilance against the approaches of burdensome as- 
sessments and taxes upon its valuable but improductive 
and trammelled real estate, averting them when 
possible before being laid or laboring for their removal 
after being imposed. No other church was so peculiarly 
situated as this, with an unproductive estate to main- 
tain, in the midst of a fluctuating population, in the 
transition stage of a rough and rocky soil where costly 
improvements were made in the most costly manner, 
multiplying onerous assessments. 

In the successive years after the assumption of my 
pastoral charge [he continued] there have come into my 
hands and received my attention in behalf of the Church 
42 separate and distinct cases of assessments for local 



^be dbutcb at Ibar^envlIIe 239 

improvements and 38 cases of taxes, making in all 80 
cases, constituting a liability of $51,025.44, with interest 
and costs, say about half as much again — total $86,000, of 
which a large amount, with accrued interest, has been 
averted, remitted or paid, leaving $16,000 with interest 
and costs yet to be adjusted. Of the items composing said 
amount a schedule has been prepared, embodied in a 
petition for relief to be presented to the Assessment Com- 
missioners appointed by the Legislature of 1880 for the 
adjustment of such matters. Beyond this sum the church 
has no debt but the two small contingent mortgages held 
by the Collegiate Church upon a section of the old Church 
plot, not payable at present and it is to be hoped the con- 
tingency never will arise which will make them fall due. 

The above statement enables one to understand how 
the misfortunes of the Church came about. Had it not 
been for the invaluable services above enumerated it 
could not have lived. It may be safely asserted that the 
pastor had saved the corporation upwards of $50,000 
in the above class of liens, by his vigilant and energetic 
labors. To summarize, in the words of The History 
of Eighty Years, he became a ubiquitous real estate 
agent. He had been kept busy enough in fencing off 
taxes and assessments, levied or purposed to be levied, 
upon the church grounds and belongings. One day 
he was at the City Hall protesting against some ob- 
noxious action of Assessors or Street Commissioners. 
The next day he was in Albany pelting the Legislature 
with arguments against pending bills laying a tax upon 
churches and cemeteries. He was singularly success- 
ful, too — ^had a genius for such work.^ 

The Rev. Alexander G. van Aken, the pastor's 

1 Cemeteries were specifially exempted from taxation by Chap. 
498, p. 1077, Laws of 1893, approved by Governor Roswell P. 
Flower, April 29. 



240 Zhc IRew IPorh of IPester^ai? 

nephew, was called as associate on April 28th, with a 
compensation of $1000. The call was, however, never 
perfected and was consequently invalid. Samuel 
Hanaway was installed Deacon on September 25th, 
and Samuel B. Reed was elected to the same office on 
the 27th. At the session of that date a tentative plan 
of reorganizing the church was considered. The 
Church Extension Committee of Classis had made a 
proposition to that end. Discussion thereof was 
postponed. Otis D. Stewart was chosen Deacon in 
October. A special meeting was called which met 
December 5th at the house of Elder Curtis, 28 West 60th 
Street. The matter was again postponed to meet the 
convenience of Classis. A communication from Classis 
was received and read on the i6th stating that the 
necessity of having the pastor declared emeritus, be- 
cause of his disability and his residence in New Jersey 
far from his people, had been thought advisable and 
passed on the 6th instant, as both Mr. van Aken's 
interest and that of the Church imperatively demanded 
that this course be taken. The Rev. A. G. Vermilye, 
Rev. Carlos Martyn, and Horatio P. Allen were ap- 
pointed to undertake this arrangement. A very 
friendly presentation of the subject was made to Do- 
mine van Aken, in which views he concurred. The 
local Consistory thereupon resolved "that, with regret 
and continued respect and affection for him after his 
long and faithful services among us, this Consistory 
recognize the Providential necessity for this step and 
join with him in his application to the Classis." A 
salary of $500 was agreed on. Worn out by years 
of labor, he had for some time been palsied and was 
residing in New Brunswick. The assistant pastor 
was also a non-resident. The Domine was accordingly 



^be Cburcb at Ibarsenvllle 241 

declared emeritus on December 20, 1881, and a com- 
mittee consisting of Dr. Vermilye, the Revs. Carlos 
Martyn and E. A. Reed, and Elders D. P. Hoffman 
and H. P. Allen was appointed for the purpose of 
aiding the local Consistory. By their advice the pulpit 
was to be supplied for the time and Reed was selected 
to arrange it. He was likewise to get the books 
and business papers from Domine van Aken and to 
collect the rent of the parsonage. 

Beginning with 1882 services began at 3 p.m. and 
the Sunday-school at 2, under the superintendence 
of Hanaway. Wood, who had declined to serve 
because of ill health, now returned to the Board. 
Emmons resigned on the ist of December "in conse- 
quence of impaired health and the infirmities of age. " 
A communication from the pastor emeritus was re- 
ceived. Therein he detailed the situation as related 
to his work in re assessments and stated that the liens 
could be materially reduced by the act of the Legisla- 
ture exempting cemeteries which he helped to procure. 
The question of the number required to be present to 
form a quorum and the official relation of the pas- 
tor with reference thereto was submitted to Classis, 
which in answer quoted the 13 th article of the Synod 
of Dort (16 1 8), the original of all others on the sub- 
ject, as stating that 

" If a minister become incapable of performing the duties 
of his office, either through age, sickness or otherwise, such 
minister shall, notwithstanding, retain the honor and style 
of his office and be provided with an honorable support." 
Similarly in the first American Constitution ("1792) (explan- 
atory of Article 16) he is declared "excused from all further 
service in the church" but retains "the title, rank, and 
character," with an adequate support. Indeed at that 
16 



242 Zbc •Rew 13orh of lPe0terbai? 

date so entirely was his position regarded as titular and 
honorary, so completely was he set aside from duty and 
even prerogative, that by Article 17 he was not allowed 
to administer the communion or celebrate a marriage 
without express permission of Classis. This article is left 
out of the Constitution of 1833, but Article 16 remains 
substantially the same. He is "excused from all further 
services in the Church," retaining only "the title, rank, 
and character"; the outward dignity and reputable 
shadow of the connection. It only remains to say that 
the Constitution of 1874 makes no change in the relation 
thus designated. Not dismissed, but honorably "excused 
from all further services in the Church" — services in the 
Consistory as well as out of it — and on the sufficient ground 
of physical (or mental) incapacity, he is not expected to be 
present or take any further part in the active working of 
the Church. That devolves upon the Consistory, without 
him, and he is not to be counted as in service or in reference 
to a quorum. His position, even if present, is honorary, 
his general position in and towards the Church being that 
of honorable retirement, with only such influence and power 
as may result from long service and the afEection and respect 
of the people. 

Domine van Aken continued to send regular com- 
munications to the Consistory reciting the condi- 
tion of the liens he had for so long a period in hand. 
At a meeting at Wood's residence February 21, 1882, 
Elder Reed was elected President until a pastor was 
provided, and Treasurer, and Hanaway, Clerk. The 
latter wishing to be relieved as Superintendent of the 
Sabbath-school in order to serve as organist, Deacon 
Stewart was chosen. The Secretary was directed to 
obtain from the late Pastor the corporate seal of the 
organization and all title deeds, instruments in writing, 
and documents belonging to the Church, and to convey 
to him the continued confidence of the Consistory. 



Zl)c Cburcb at IbarsenvlHc 243 

After due consideration of an offer of $80,000 which 
had been received for the lots on which the parsonage 
stood the matter was referred to a committee with 
power. Just as the bargain was being closed, to 
quote The History of Eighty Years, a new and unex- 
pected difficulty arose. Two or three of the heirs of 
Jacob Harsen objected to the sale on the ground that 
the land was restricted by the deed of gift to use as a 
parsonage plot ; and they claimed that, if sold for other 
uses, the land would revert to the heirs. This question 
went to the courts, where it remained for nearly a 
year — the life of the Church hanging on the decision. 
During the interval, the Advisory Committee, through 
its clerical members and through other clergymen 
whose services they from time to time secured, supplied 
the pulpit as a freewill offering. Among the brethren 
so co-operating were the Rev. Drs. A. G. Vermilye, 
Wm. Ormiston, E. B. Reed, and J. H. Gardner and 
the Revs. Carlos Martyn, W. C. Handy, and A. J. Park. 
Thanks were voted in October to the reverend mem- 
bers for their services in most acceptably supplying 
the pulpit for nearly a year past, except for the few 
weeks in the summer when the Church was closed, 
it being deemed a duty to relieve them from further 
labor and responsibility in the matter. Pending the 
calling of a pastor, the Elders undertook to obtain a 
weekly supply. 

Application to the Supreme Court had been made 
and permission to sell entered on April 8th, so, when 
towards the end of that year the right to sell was con- 
firmed, the sale was consummated on December ist. 
To a recital of the above-detailed troubles were added 
by the Treasurer in his report of the transaction these 
words : " I refer to them as a part of the most memora- 



244 XTbe 1Rew l?ork of l?e6terba^ 

ble period in the history of this church and that it may 
become a part of its records. " The deed for the 8 lots 
between 7 2d and 73d Streets ran to J. Augustus Page, 
and simultaneously therewith a deed from said Page 
and wife to Alfred C. Clark was delivered. From the 
proceeds, over $10,000 of taxes and assessments in 
arrears were paid and $6000 was reserved to await 
the result of the litigations commenced by Domine 
van Aken. Deducting other expenses, over $61,000 
was deposited to the credit of the Church. Many 
needed improvements and repairs to the Chapel, which 
would add much to its appearance and the comfort 
of the worshippers, were announced as being in progress 
at a cost of $1500. 

XTbe Sfittb /iBfnistcr 

On December 7, 1882, at a meeting at which the 
members of the Advisory Committee were present, the 
question of calling a pastor became uppermost. There 
appeared a distinct feeling in the Consistory favoring 
Rev. Carlos Martyn, of which the committee approved, 
whereupon the Clerk was directed to prepare the form 
of call prescribed, to begin January i, 1883, at a salary 
of $3000. Mr. Martyn was bom in this city, Decem- 
ber 15, 1 84 1, and had had large experience in church 
work. Fresh from graduation in 1869 at Union 
Theological Seminary he became pastor of Pilgrim 
Congregational Church at St. Louis; took charge of 
the North Church of the same denomination at Ports- 
mouth, N. H., in 1 87 1, whence he returned (1876) to 
New York to fill the pastorate of the Thirty-fourth 
Street Reformed Church. He was there when, in 
obedience to the direction of Classis, he succeeded 
Domine van Aken. He was in the vigor of manhood 




Portrait and signature of Rev. Carlos Martyn, D.D. 



^be Cburcb at Ibareenvllle ; 245 

and brought to Bloomingdale an established reputation 
as a preacher and writer. This call was accepted and 
the pastor presided at the session on January 13th, 
when standing committees were appointed. Services 
were fixed for Sabbath mornings at 11, Sunday-school 
at 3, evening service at 7.30, and prayer meeting 
at 8 Wednesday evenings. Samuel Hanaway was 
confirmed as organist. A Committee on Installation 
was appointed. Meetings were to be held thereafter 
in the Lecture Room. 

On Sunday afternoon, February 25th, the Chapel was 
reopened for public worship, the services being in the 
nature of a fraternal congratulation, participated in 
by the Rev. Drs. E. B. Coe, senior minister of the 
denomination, C. De Witt Brigham, Baptist, Howard 
Crosby, Presbyterian, G. H. Mandeville, Reformed, 
Wilbur F. Watkins, Episcopalian, S. H. Virgin, Con- 
gregationalist, and Charles F. Deems, Independent. 
The Rev. Dr. J. L. See was also present and offered 
prayer. The occasion, in the words of The History 
of Eighty Years, written by the pastor, which must be 
largely relied on for the history of this period, was 
a kind of love-feast and was enjoyed by a large congre- 
gation. The installation service occurred on Tuesday 
evening the 27th inst. The Chapel was filled and the 
exercises followed in this order: The new quartette, 
of which Edward Berge was organist and Samuel 
Hanaway bass, rendered an anthem; the Scripture 
lesson was read by the Rev. E. S. Fairchild; the Rev. 
Dr. T. W. Chambers delivered the prayer; the sermon 
was preached by the Rev. Dr. Ormiston; the charge 
to the pastor was made of Dr. Edward A. Reed, 
to the people by Dr. Vermilye, and prayer by Dr. 
Roderick Terry. It was reported on March 7th that 



246 Zbc flew l?orh of l^e^ter^ap 

the organ had been thoroughly repaired and removed 
to the gallery. 

Mr. Martyn says that the field here at first look was 
not reassuring. There was little at the commencement 
of his ministry but a legal organization. Everything 
else needed to be created. 

But I knew that God was not dead! I felt that I had 
in Messrs. Reed, Hanaway, and Dtinlap [George E. Dunlap 
was elected deacon on April 4] able and devoted assistants, 
and we all saw the promise of the future. For the condition 
of Bloomingdale had amazingly changed since the period 
of Mr. van Aken's active experience. It had become a 
part of the metropolis. Buildings were going up in all 
directions, intelligent and well-to-do residents were rapidly 
pre-empting the ground. No better location for a church 
was to be found on Manhattan Island. Cheered by these 
good omens the new pastorate opened. Soon the various 
constituent elements of active and aggressive church life 
were gathered and set in motion. The prayer meeting, the 
Sunday-school, which had reopened March nth, with half 
a dozen teachers, the congregation, grew apace; and we 
foresaw and commenced to provide against the time when 
the Chapel would fail to accommodate the parish. Where 
shall we put the new Church f This was the question which 
now confronted the Consistory. Which would be wisest, 
to build on 7 2d Street, or to go back to the old site on the 
corner of Broadway and 68th Street? This matter of 
location was anxiously, prayerfully debated. Eventually 
the latter spot was decided on. There is only one Broadway. 
A church on that corner would be easily accessible from 
below and from above, and on either side. It was 
an admirable location for an imposing structure on 
account of the peculiar shape of the corner. These 
considerations controlled our action — these and the fact 
that the parsonage lots were marketable, while the 
Broadway plot was not, and we needed to sell our real 



Zhc Cburcb at Ibarsenvllle 247 

estate, either here or there, in order to pay for the new 
edifice. 

Accordingly on the 4th of April, 1883, the Consistory 
passed a resolution appointing Elders Reed and Hanaway 
a committee to blast out and prepare the cemetery plot 
for a new House of Worship — the fourth of the series 
the congregation had constructed. On top of the mountain 
of rock that occupied the space rested some ten or twelve 
feet of soil, wherein reposed the dead forefathers of the 
hamlet, buried between 181 5 and about 1866, when a 
municipal ordinance forbade further interments. Memory 
recalls ^the scene; the old line of ruins made by the east 
wall of the demolished church, the dilapidated vaults, 
the broken headstones that marked the trampled graves, 
the goats that found sacrilegious pasturage above the dead, 
the little ragamuffins that made a noisy and profane play- 
ground of what should have been a hallowed precinct — a 
scene barbarous as war or rapine could have made it and 
utterly scandalous and disgraceful. 

The actual work of removing the earth and debris 
of the Church and laying bare the rock was commenced 
on Tuesday, June 19th. 

The Consistory on the same day directed that the 
bodies resting in this deserted and neglected cemetery 
should be disinterred and placed in a temporary 
vault on the ground. This reading notice, from the 
New York Herald of June 13th, fixes the date: 

Permission was granted yesterday by the 
Health authorities to the Consistory of the 
Bloomingdale Reformed Church, Sixty-eighth 
Street and Boulevard, to transfer from an old 
to a new vault in the graveyard surrounding 
the Church, the bodies of thirty [sic] persons 
interred there over thirty years ago. 

This work was careftdly and piously performed, Elder 



248 



^be 'Bcvo l?ork of l^esterba^ 



Hanaway, a child of this Church, giving it his constant 
personal attention. Several men were specially em- 
ployed in removing the remains found in vaults and 
graves, and such interest was displayed by all con- 
cerned that it was believed that not a bone was lost. 
The bodies were all carefully put into new boxes pre- 
pared for the purpose, and where silver plates were 
found that were legible they were fastened on the 
boxes containing the remains of those whose names 
they bore. It was estimated that upwards of 120 
bodies were taken up. Only a few of these could be 
identified, as the plates had disintegrated in most 
instances to such an extent as not to be decipherable. 
The inscriptions on such as were legible follow: 

John Asten, Bom Ap. 2, 1753 ; Died Aug, 3, 1830, 

in his 78th year. 
Samuel Wiser, Obt. 4th March 1819, aged 34 yrs. 

14 days. 
Mary Dupont, Died July 31st, 1842, aged yrs. 

7 mos. 8 days. 
Died Feb. 17th, 1842, aged 8 yrs. 
Died March 23rd, 1822, aged 79 yrs, 
Mary H. Churchill, Died July 24th, 1849, aged i yr. 

9 mos. 2 1 days. 
Died Nov. 8th, 1849. 
Died loth Dec. 1831, aged 69 yrs. 

1 1 mos. 9 days. 
Died ist June, 1825, aged 73 yrs. 
Died April ist, 1824, aged 84 years. 
Died 24th July 1816, aged 42 

years. 
Died Sept, 29, 1830, aged in his 
40th year. 
James Russell Knight, Died May 23rd, 1824, aged 44 yrs. 

& 5 mos. 



Mary Winnans, 
Hannah Knight, 



George T. Purth, 
John Cozine, 

Amos Freeman, 
John Ackerman, 
B. Asten, 

Haram Betts, 



tTbe Cburcb at Ibar^enviUe 249 

Leo Graham, No plate, tombstone standing. Re- 

mains could be identified and 
name placed on box. 

The report of the committee in charge, Messrs, 
Reed and Hanaway, continues: " These boxes will be 
placed alongside of each other in the new vault with 
none others on top, so that when the boxes decay 
the plates will fall in on the remains to indicate 
correctly the identity of each body." By the end of 
July all the bodies were removed. 

On Feb. 6, 1883, Senior Elder Reed, an architect 
of repute, submitted plans for the new church, par- 
sonage, lecture and Sunday-school room which met 
with the hearty approbation of Consistory and were 
adopted with enthusiasm. The work of excavation 
occupied the remainder of the year and was not com- 
pleted until the spring of 1884. In May of that year 
the masons commenced to lay the foimdations of the 
new structure and on the 30th of the next month 
the comer-stone was laid with imposing ceremonies 
and in the presence of a numerous and deeply inter- 
ested gathering. 

While we were agitating the question of building [says 
The History of Eighty Years] a singular event occurred. 
It was found that the plot we owned on this comer was 
too shallow for our purpose, on the 68th Street line only 
seventy feet six inches deep. Inquiries were made con- 
cerning the ownership of the adjoining lot in the rear, 
fronting upon 68th Street, where the chapel and Sunday- 
school are placed. It was found that it belonged to an 
estate. One cold spring day in 1883, as the pastor and 
Mr. Reed sat chatting in the latter' s office, a friend burst 
in and told us that lot was to be sold at auction in the 
Real Estate Exchange at 12 o'clock that day. We looked 



2 50 Zbc "Wew l?orft of IPeaterbai? 

at the clock. It was eight minutes of twelve. We threw 
on our overcoats and rushed forth. The Exchange was 
half a mile away. We reached it panting for breath. 
Just as we entered the room the auctioneer was crying, 
"Going, going, at $4500; first call, second call, third and 
last" — It was the very lot we wanted! Mr. Reed in- 
stantly said, "I offer $4600." The bids ran up to $7000, 
when it was knocked down to us. The parties bidding 
when we came in, not knowing us, supposed we were 
bidding against them in the interest of the estate which 
owned the lot. So they went up as high as they dared, 
and then unloaded, as they supposed on the estate, and 
turned away with a chuckle. When they learned the 
truth we were informed that they were very sad ! Had it 
been known how essential that lot was to us, we would 
probably have had to pay dearly for it. We owe the 
chapel, and indeed the whole building in its present form, 
to our opportune arrival. 

While the work of construction was going on, we were all 
busy in a dozen different directions — poring over plans, 
superintending the construction, making contracts, carrying 
forward public worship, calling upon and endeavoring to 
interest new friends, caring for the sick, burying the dead ; 
in short administering the parish. The Consistory, which 
had long been in an unsatisfactory state, and which, in the 
Reformed Church, is the source of spiritual and secular 
influence, the legislative, executive and judicial power, — 
in so far as the individual church is concerned, is White 
House, Congress, and Supreme Court combined — ^was at 
last composed of gentlemen of standing and ability, in 
the prime of life. At the session of the Consistory held 
January 3d, 1885, the number was raised to the require- 
ment of the resolution passed in 181 4, by the election of an 
elder and a deacon to fill the long-existing vacancies: 
Messrs. Wm. M. Stout and Wm. J. Lyon being installed, the 
first in the eldership, and the second in the deaconry. 
These brethren have proved a mighty addition, "workmen 




THE BLOOMINGDALE REFORMED CHURCH 
The Fourth House of Worship. Northeast corner of Broadway and 68th Street 



^be Cburcb at IbarsenvUIe 251 

needing not to be ashamed." The Consistory was at that 
time constituted as follows, viz., Elders, S. B. Reed, 
Samuel Hanaway, Wm. M. Stout; Deacons, George E. 
Dunlap, J. P. Deyo, Wm. J. Lyon. 

An offer was reported in March, 1884, of $85,000 
for the eight lots on which the Chapel stood, and when 
a few days later it was raised to $1 10,000 the Consistory 
jS-xed a price of $20,000 apiece for the 7 2d Street lots 
and of $15,000 for those on 71st Street. The pastor's 
salary was increased to $3500. In an effort to place 
a mortgage on the new church site the old trouble 
which was temporarily allayed some years previously 
confronted the Consistory. The loans of $600 and 
$3093, secured by mortgage held by the Collegiate 
Church, had to be first removed. The principal of 
these liens was duly paid on August 7 th, and satisfac- 
tion recorded. The building committee announced that 
month that the walls were ready for the roof. The 
total cost of the series of buildings which were com- 
pleted within the next two months, and including 
the organ and furniture, the amount paid for the 
chapel lot in the rear, and the cost of excavation, 
was $151,198.71. The organ was built by the long- 
established and celebrated firm of George Jardine & 
Son. It was scheduled at $5000, and was said by the 
builders and by acknowledged experts to be an instru- 
ment of grand tone and range. 

The moneys used in the work of construction had 
been obtained from the balance on hand of the $80,000 
received from the sale of the parsonage lots and from 
two loans negotiated with the Mutual Life Insurance 
Co. — one, for $55,000, secured by a mortgage resting 
upon the eight lots between 71st and 72d Streets, where 
the old Chapel yet stood and forming the southern 



252 Zhc flew l?orft of W^Btcvbw^ 

half of the parsonage acre; the other, of $70,000, 
secured by a mortgage on the edifice. Some unusual 
problems had to be solved, such as fitting the structure 
to the triangular shape of the plot and at the same time 
avoiding objectionable exhibitions of these angles 
in the interior; harmonizing within graceful lines so 
many buildings containing ample accommodations for 
their prospective requirement, each distinct and 
separated from the others and yet capable of being 
used, should occasion require, at the same time without 
conflict or interference one with the other; extending 
through them all the systems of heating, lighting, and 
ventilation, each arranged to be easily controlled and 
directed, and adopting and introducing a plan of acous- 
tics having none of the defects common to most large 
churches. The task devolved entirely on the architect 
without the usual building committee to share the 
responsibilities of the work. Five hundred and twenty 
sittings were allowed for in the body of the auditorium. 
The finished product made as complete and perfectly 
equipped an institution as the city held, and by com- 
mon acknowledgment one of the most original and 
beautiful. By almost unheard-of good fortune this 
large enterprise was finished without a single accident 
involving injury or death to any person. 

It may be said that, under God, this parish is pre- 
eminently indebted to two persons: the first, Barbara 
Asten, whose pious benefaction paid for the old Church; 
the other, Jacob Harsen, whose gift of the parsonage 
acre away back in 1809 enabled this magnificent 
structure to be built. Following the close of the service 
on the morning of December 14th, the Consistory met in 
the lecture room with the especial object of planning, 
for the new edifice, a memorial to express their respect 



ti:be Cburcb at Ibarsenvllle 253 

and gratitude to Mr. Harsen. The following preamble 
and resolutions were unanimously adopted : 

Whereas Jacob Harsen, Senior, late of Harsenville 
as the locality of his residence and of this Church was then 
called, was one of the founders and most liberal supporters 
of this Church; and 

Whereas the said Jacob Harsen in the year 1809, by his 
deed of gift of certain lands in near proximity to this 
Church (and which have become valuable), did thus, by 
his liberality and forethought, provide the means, to a 
large extent, which have enabled this Church to erect and 
furnish their new and commodious edifice for the public 
worship of Almighty God; and 

Whereas this Consistory deem it proper that the name 
and memory of the said Jacob Harsen, as one of the found- 
ers, and principal benefactor of this Church, should be 
preserved therein, therefore it is 

Resolved that a suitable Memorial to the said Jacob 
Harsen be set in a conspicuous place within our said new 
Church edifice, situated at the comer of Broadway and 
West Sixty-eighth Street. 

Resolved that Elders Reed and Hanaway be a committee, 
with the power to put the above into execution. 

Resolved that engrossed copies of the foregoing preamble 
and resolutions, with the corporate seal of this Church 
affixed thereto, be signed by the President and Clerk of 
Consistory and presented to a representative of each of 
the four families constituting the descendants of the said 
Jacob Harsen, namely: Mrs. Catharine Purdy and Mrs* 
Cornelia Rachel Rhoades who are grand-daughters, Jacob 
Halsted Esq., whose deceased wife was a grand-daughter, 
and to one of the descendants of Mrs. Joanna R. Prall 
deceased, who also was a grand-daughter of the said Jacob 
Harsen, Senior. 

An engrossed copy thereof was framed and hung 



254 ^be 1Rew IPork of ^CBtcvt>a^ 

in the vestibule opposite the tablet in memory of 
Mrs. As ten, which reads as follows: 

As a TOKEN of gratitude for [distinguished liberality 

Bestowed upon this house 

And to perpetuate the Remembrance of her pious 

BENEFACTION 

This monumental Stone 

is Erected by the consistory of the church 

To the Memory 

of 

MRS. BARBARA ASTEN 

The wife of mr. john asten, who fell asleep in Jesus 
July the 24th, 1816, aged 42 years. 

And thou Shalt be blessed, for they cannot recompense thee ; 
For thou Shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the 

just. Luke 14, 14. 

The righteous Shall be in Everlasting remembrance. 

Ps. 112, 6. 

Domine van Aken passed away in January. On 
February 4th, a committee, composed of the pastor 
and Elders Reed and Hanaway, was appointed to pre- 
pare a memorial. This was spread on the minutes 
on March 6th, as follows: 

It having pleased Almighty God to remove by death on 
the third [should be second] day of January, 1885, the Rev. 
Enoch van Aken, D.D., the Pastor Emeritus of this Church, 

Resolved that this Consistory desires to express its grateful 
sense of appreciation of his long and laborious life, nearly 
fifty years of which were passed in the service of this 
people. His was one of the longest pastorates in the 
annals of the Metropolitan pulpit and one of the most 
checkered. By his prudence in temporal matters and by 
his wisdom in spiritual interests, he stamped his indi- 
viduality ineffaceably upon this church and neighborhood. 
Those who knew him in his prime think of him as an 



ZTbe Cburcb at Ibarsenville 255 

earnest and sound exponent of the Gospel and love to 
dwell upon his faithful and pastoral oversight. Those, 
who met him later on, when resting under broken health, 
were impressed by his uncomplaining spirit and steadfast 
hope. 

We lay a garland on his coffin ; and while we thank God 
for what He enabled him to do, we congratulate him upon 
his emancipation from the heart-ache and weariness of 
this mortal life and his advancement into the largeness 
and blessedness of Heaven. As he passes from our sight, 
but not from our memory, we exclaim: "All hail and fare- 
well!" 

Resolved, that this minute be recorded in our book of 
proceedings, and that a copy be forwarded to Dr. van Aken's 
widow, with the assurance of our tender sympathy. 

The Kingston, N. Y., Freeman contained this notice: 
Died. 

van Aken at New Brunswick, N. J., Jan- 
uary 2, 1885, the Rev. Enoch van Aken in 
his 77th year. 

The many Kingston friends of Rev. Enoch 
van Aken will be pained to learn of his death, 
which occurred at New Brunswick, N. J., Jan. 
2d. The deceased was a brother of William 
van Aken of this city and was the father of the 
late Rev. Gulick van Aken who was also well 
known here and who was once called as the 
pastor of the Presbyterian Church but died 
before commencing active work. Rev. 
Enoch van Aken was bom at Esopus and 
spent the earlier part of his life in the neigh- 
borhood of Saugerties. He was educated at 
Kingston Academy and commenced the study 
of law in the village of Kingston ; afterwards 
he gave up the pursuit of law for that of 
the ministry. He entered Rutgers College, 



256 ^be IRew Iffork of IJeeterba^ 

New Brunswick, and Princeton Theological 
Seminary, New Jersey, and after completing 
his studies commenced his life work as 
pastor of the Dutch Church at Kinderhook, 
New York. Two years afterwards he was 
called to the Bloomingdale Church, New 
York City. This was just half a century ago, 
but he continued in active service as pastor 
of that church until within a few years of his 
death. Then he relinquished his labors be- 
cause of a stroke of paralysis. While physic- 
ally disabled his mind continued active and 
useful until he was called home to receive 
the reward, "Well done, good and faithful 
servant; enter into the joy of thy Lord," and 
to realize the promise, " where I am ye may 
be also." 

His remains were interred in the cemetery at Sleepy 
Hollow. 

A marble tablet was thereafter erected to his mem- 
ory bearing this inscription, composed by his life-long 
friend, Rev. A. R. Thompson, D.D. 

TO THE BLESSED MEMORY OF 

THE REV°. ENOCH VAN AKEN 

Born July 21st, 1808, 

August 9th, 1835, Installed Minister of this Church, 

Died January 2nd, 1885. 

Gentle in spirit, wise in counsel, constant in labor, 

A faithful preacher of Christ crucified. 

By his fidelity, sagacity and devotion 

This Church was brought safely through the critical period 

When the village of Bloomingdale was becoming a part 

of this great Metropolis. 

"He was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of 

faith." — Acts xi., 24. 



^be Cburcb at Ibarsenvillc 257 

" Their works do follow them." — Revelations xiv., 13. 
Erected by the Consistory. 

With the passing of Domine van Aken expired the 
last pastor of Holland descent. While Dr. Gunn was 
not of the Dutch faith, Domines Kip and van Aken 
were born in the fold. Their pastorates ended what 
might be called the Dutch period in the life of the 
Church. Mr. van Aken was born July 21, 1808, 
graduated at Rutgers College in 1830, at the New 
Brunswick and Princeton Seminaries in 1833, was 
licensed by the Presbytery of New Brunswick and 
ordained by the Classis of Rensselaer in 1834. He was 
at the Kinderhook church the following year and came 
to his life charge in 1835. Corwin's Manual says it 
was his faithful preaching which led the Rev. Alex- 
ander R. Thompson to a new life, and credits him 
with having carried his church through a great and 
severe trial and saved it. He had remarkable ability, 
heroic simplicity, and earnest perseverance, and was 
a constant and never wearying visitor among the 
transient population of Bloomingdale. He was the 
author of many publications, mostly sermons and 
biographical articles, among the latter being "The 
Life and Character of Miss Ann Striker," Christian 
Intelligencer, i860, and "Article on General Garret 
H. Striker," in the same publication April, 1868. 

In March the new parsonage was so far finished that 
the pastor was requested to take possession. The 
meeting of the Consistory on April 2d was held there. 
A communication, dated the 30th inst., was received 
from the Department of Public Works complaining 
of the carelessness of the contractor. He had des- 
troyed some of the elms lining the sidewalk in his 
blasting operations. In May, Deacon Lyon reported 



258 Z\)c 1Rew IPork ot IPeeter^ai? 

that he had made a satisfactory adjustment of this 
matter with the Department, and had taken steps to 
secure two lamps to be placed in front of the edifice 
on the Boulevard. 

The following account of the dedication service 
held on Thursday evening, October 2 2d, at 7.30 
o'clock, is copied from the report published in The 
Christian Intelligencer, of the 28th: 

The dedication on Thursday evening last of the Bloom- 
ingdale Church at Broadway and Sixty-eighth Street was 
an event of more than usual iniportance to our denomi- 
nation. It is the first church edifice erected by us in this 
city for fifteen years ; and when the long continued struggle 
of the organization for existence is considered, the present 
society may be looked upon as a complete gain to our 
communion. For years after the farmers in the vicinity 
had sold their land to speculators, or had turned it into 
imaginary city lots, the congregation consisted of little more 
than the pastor's family and the sexton. Again and again 
the Classis threatened to abandon the work, but was re- 
strained by the remonstrance of the pastor, the Rev. 
Enoch van Aken, of whose foresight and pertinacity of 
purpose the present building is largely the result. The 
church has a frontage of 112 feet on Broadway, and a 
depth of about 100 feet on Sixty-eighth Street. It is 
built in the 13th century Gothic style, of Kentucky oolitic 
limestone, with the tower at the corner, and a pointed arch 
upon each street. The tower is extended to its full height^ 
but the spire which is to be of the same stone will not be 
added until a year hence, as it is necessary always to allow 
the walls to settle before imposing so great weight upon 
them. The interior arrangement is unique, admirably 
adapted to church purposes, and admitting of perfect 
acoustic properties. The main auditorium is finished 
entirely in oak, is oblong, with a gallery elliptical in form. 
The gallery is a peculiar feature in the design, being divided 



^be Cburcb at IbarsenvUle 259 

into " boxes " after the manner of the old Holland churches, 
and contributes materially to the general artistic effect. 
The floor slopes from all directions toward the pulpit, which 
is below the organ and the choir gallery, and stands in the 
centre of the longest diameter of the room. Light is 
obtained not only through the numerous stained glass 
windows, but through colored glass panels in the ceiling, 
which also act as ventilators, and produce an effect in 
ornamentation which can be produced in no other way. 
With thirteen exits from the room, one could scarcely lose 
enough presence of mind to secure his retention in the 
building in case of fire. In the rear of the body of the 
church are the lecture room and parlor on the ground floor, 
and the Sunday-school room above, furnished with infant 
and Bible class rooms opening out of it, and a wide gallery 
which runs around it on three sides. In going through the 
building, one is impressed with its solidity, spaciousness, 
and convenience. The architect, Mr. S. B. Reed, of 245 
Broadway, is the senior elder of the church. 

Long before the hour of service, a crowd waited for ad- 
mission, and when the doors were open the building was 
soon filled to its utmost capacity. Words of commendation 
were heard on every hand, and when the gas was turned 
up there was a general murmur of approval. A pleasant 
feature of the occasion was the presence of the wife of the 
Rev. Enoch van Aken, who was pastor of the Church for 
fifty years. 

After an organ voluntary by Mr. Edward G. Jardine, 
builder of the instrument, the Rev. G. H. Smyth offered 
the invocation and pronounced the salutation. Rev. 
A. J. Hutton, of Brooklyn, read the Commandments, and 
Dr. E. A. Reed led in the responsive reading of the io2d 
Psalm. The choir then sang the anthem, "0 Come Let us 
Sing." The Old Testament lesson, Ex. xl : 17-38, was 
read by Dr. T. W. Chambers, and the lesson from the New 
Testament, Rev. xxi: 10-27, by Rev. S. S. Martyn. The 
hymn, "God in His earthly Temples lays foundations for 



26o Zbc new ffiorft of ©eetcrba^ 

His heavenly praise," was read by Rev. O. H. Walser, and 
the congregation joined heartily in singing. 

The pastor, Rev. Carlos Martyn, then spoke as follows: 

" It is the pleasure of a lifetime, dear friends, to welcome 
you to-night to the dedication services of the Bloomingdale 
Reformed Church. Only those who have some acquaint- 
ance with building can understand or appreciate the 
multitude of details involved in the progress of any work 
of construction. We had hoped to welcome you to-night 
to a completed building, but we are a little disappointed 
in that. There are some of the details of finish in the wood- 
work and decoration which await the final touch of the 
workers in wood, and the cunning fingers of the decorator. 
Anyhow, we are glad to be here, for we here find transformed 
into solid stone, the hopes and dreams of many anxious and 
weary months. 

" Standing now upon the threshold of those purposes to 
which we intend to devote this building, we desire most 
reverently to thank the Great Head of the Church, the 
'Giver of every good and perfect gift,' for His constant 
presence and continuous benediction. One of our elders 
said to me to-day : ' The history of our church is a history 
of divine providence.' That has never been more mark- 
edly realized than in the past year or two of our experience. 
The dear God has never left us nor forsaken us. 

" Standing on this platform this evening, there seems to 
start up before the eyes of my mind, a plain old farmer, a 
man prominent here six or seven decades ago. He was 
a leader in the then hamlet of Bloomingdale. I am, of 
course, referring to Jacob Harsen. I speak of this good 
man for a purpose. He has won the everlasting gratitude 
of every clergyman. Clergymen are a much-abused class 
of men. There are two views which prevail in the com- 
munity with regard to them. One is that a clergyman 
is a dray-horse, always serviceable, and at all times fit 
to be harnessed between the thills, and made to drag any 
cause out of the slough. Another view of him is, that 



^be Cburcf) at Ibar^cnvUlc 261 

he is a big bass drum, and everybody, as he passes along, 
feels at liberty to give him a thump. Jacob Harsen had 
a better idea of a minister. He said : ' The best thing to do 
with a domine is to put him in a pleasant home.' And, 
accordingly, he had constructed for the domine in his day 
a lovely and commodious parsonage, and gave him an 
ample parsonage plot. In the lapse of time that parsonage 
property, with the upward growth of our city, has become 
valuable; and instead of representing hundreds of dollars 
in value, as it did years ago, it now represents many 
thousands. And because of that increased value, we are 
here to-night. This building, in some sense, is the result 
of old Jacob Harsen's thoughtful kindness to his minister. 
It is a good example to follow, and I hope some of you will 
take it earnestly to heart. 

" Then I recall standing here that dear old man, the Rev. 
Enoch van Aken, who labored for fifty years in this portion 
of God's vineyard, and who withstood misrepresentation 
and misunderstanding decades long, and rowed against 
the stream for dreary years. I think his spirit, resting 
yonder in glory, is bending over us to-night, and joining 
with us as we bow in gratitude before the Great White 
Throne. 

"I bear a loving testimony also to the continual and 
patient labor and the practical skill of our senior Elder, the 
architect of this building, Mr. S. B. Reed. To my personal 
knowledge, all the details of this work have gone forward 
under his immediate eye and hand. For the beauty of 
this temple, with its brightness and commodiousness, you 
are indebted to him. Upon the tomb of Sir Christopher 
Wren, England's great architect, there is a striking epitaph. 
As you enter Saint Paul's Cathedral, you find staring you 
in the face these words: 'If you would behold the genius 
of Sir Christopher Wren, look around you.' We borrow 
to-night the epitaph of the English architect, and apply 
the legend to our honored friend and brother Mr. Reed. 
It is also due to our Consistory to say that they have stayed 



262 ^be IRew l^ork of W^etctt>w^ 

up his hands grandly. His plans and suggestions have 
sometimes been earnestly debated, but he has almost 
always carried the day. 

"The church and congregation, too, have given us their 
continued interest and sympathetic co-operation in every 
stage of the work. 

"I claim two things for this church. It is a thoroughly 
constructed building. If there be any spot beneath 
heaven where truth should prevail, it is in the house of God. 
We have put truth into our rafters, into our walls, into our 
floors, and, please God, we mean to put truth into our- 
selves — the hardest task of all. We have got an honest 
house — good, sound oak in the interior, and solid stone 
on the outside. It is also an economical building. I claim 
unhesitatingly that it has cost less than any other church 
on Manhattan Island which is equally well equipped for 
the service of God. We have paid less than $150,000 for 
it. The land we count worth $125,000, so that the lowest 
actual value represented here is $275,000. We believe 
$300,000 would be nearer the present value. 

"There are one or two features of our church of which I 
wish to speak. It is not so much one building as a suc- 
cession of buildings. Remembering what Jacob Harsen 
gave that acre for, seventy years ago, our Consistory has 
seen to it that the Domine is well housed. In addition 
to the new parsonage, we have behind this auditorium, a 
lecture room, a church parlor, and a Sunday-school room 
capable of accomodating seven hundred scholars. Cobbett, 
the English economist, said that the secret of English 
civilization lay in the stomachs of the nation. I do not 
know how that is, but I am sure that every housewife is 
aware that she can reach the heart of her husband through 
his stomach more quickly than in any other way. We 
have borrowed a thought from this fact. We have put 
under our church parlor, a kitchen with a range in it, and 
every appliance usually found in this important part of a 
well-appointed house. We propose to feed the hungry 



^be Cburcb at IbarsenvUle 263 

literally, and I do not know but that by and by we will go a 
step further, and clothe the naked. I hope so. 

"Whether a man likes a building such as this is, or not, 
depends on his taste. Some people adore what is called 
ecclesiastical architecture — the cathedral style. They de- 
light to sing with Milton: 

'I love the high embow^d roof. 
With antique pillars massy proof. 
And storied windows, richly dight. 
Casting a dim religious light.' 
But we do not believe in 'dim religious light.' That 
is magnificent poetry, but it is wretched church architec- 
ture, because it puts people to sleep. If you would get the 
grace of God into a man's heart, you must get the sleep 
rubbed out of his eyes. We have made our church as 
cheerful as the sunlight by day, and the gaslight by night, 
can make it. 

"One of the most interesting features in connection with 
the entrance into our new church is the home-coming of the 
inmates of the Orphan Asylum at the foot of Seventy- 
third Street. Hereafter we are to be privileged to welcome 
the dear little lambs of that lovely flock to our services. 

"Dear brethren and sisters, friends and hearers, our 
church will have been built in vain unless there shall come 
into it the spirit of the Living God. Vain the beauty 
of these walls, the luxuries we have lavished here, all those 
features of our church architecture in which we take such 
pride, unless operating through them all shall be the Holy 
Ghost. All else without that is but as sounding brass and 
a tinkling cymbal. 

"You remember the story of the old Greek who under- 
took to make a corpse stand on its feet. He lifted it. 
He poised it. He relaxed his grasp. It fell. Again 
he lifted it. Again it fell in a dismal huddle to the earth. 
Beholding it steadfastly, he said, ' It lacks something 
within.' And so a church lacks something within un- 
less God shall be found operating in and through its affairs. 



264 ^be "fflew l?orft ot l?e6terba^ 

May we therefore be animated by the blessed spirit which 
was in Christ Jesus! " 

At the close of this address, Mrs. Geo. W. DeLano sang 
an alto solo, "This night I lift my heart," and then followed 
the dedicatory prayer, offered by Dr. A. G. Vermilye, 
and the reading of the form of dedication by the pastor, 
while the people stood. The hymn "How charming is 
the place" was read by Rev. W. W. Clark. 

Dr. E. B. Coe was to have preached, but owing to the 
lateness of the hour he gave a brief synopsis of the sermon. 
His text was Psalm xcvi., 6: "Honor and majesty are 
before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary." 
The theme was the importance of the church to personal 
character and to our civilization. He touched brieJQy 
upon its intellectual, social, and charitable influence, and 
upon its value as a protest against indifference to spiritual 
things, and closed with an appeal to his hearers to unite 
ill extending the church in the country, and to cherish 
the new religious home which they had just consecrated 
to the worship of God. After a prayer by Rev. Dr. J. M. 
Dickson and the singing of the hymn "Arise, O King of 
Grace, Arise," the service closed with the doxology and 
the benediction, pronounced by Rev. Paul D. van Cleef, D.D. 

The cheerful gaslight spoken of by Mr. Martyn in his 
address is produced by the reflectors of Mr. I. P. Frink. 
The light is soft and pleasant to the eye, while brilliant 
and equally diffused throughout the large audience room. 

Exercises at the Service of Fellowship took place on Sun- 
day afternoon October 25th. The day was a lovely one. 
At 3 o'clock the members and friends of the Blooming- 
dale Church again assembled in the new and charming house 
and crowded every nook and corner. A feast of good 
things had been provided for the vast congregation which 
sat in rapt attention for nearly three hours. The singing 
on this occasion, as at the dedication, was of a high order 
of merit and was led by the efficient quartette. The 
organist, Mr. G. Balies, Jr., presided at the organ. A ntimber 



^be Cburcb at Ibareenvllle 265 

of familiar hymns were interspersed, and the whole con- 
gregation became the choir. The Scriptures were read by 
the Rev. A. P. Atterbury, of the Eighty-sixth Street 
Presbyterian Church. Prayer was then offered by the 
Rev. Wendell Prime, D. D., editor of the New York Observer. 
The opening address was delivered by the pastor who was 
succeeded in turn by these representative brethren who 
joined to make the occasion memorable: Rev. Dr. 
Howard Crosby, pastor of the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian 
Church; the Rev. Dr. O. H. Tiffany, pastor of the Madison 
Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church; the Rev. Dr. Wilbur 
F. Watkins, rector of Holy Trinity, at Madison Avenue 
and 42d Street; the Rev. Sanford S. Martyn, pastor of the 
Congregational Church at Peacham, Vermont; the Rev. 
Dr. Robert S. Mac Arthur, pastor of Calvary Baptist 
Church, West 57th Street; the Rev. Dr. Charles F. Deems, 
pastor of the Church of the Strangers, Mercer Street; 
the Rev. Samuel H. Virgin, pastor of Pilgrim Con- 
gregational Church, Harlem, and the Rev. Dr. D. N. 
Vanderveer, pastor of the First Reformed Church of 
Brooklyn. The Rev. Dr. C. S. Harrower of St. Andrew's 
M. E. Church, in West 71st Street, led in a concluding 
prayer and the exercises ended with the long metre doxology. 

Regular services were begun on Sunday morning 
November ist. An historical discourse was delivered 
by Mr. Martyn, which ended with these words : 

"A church exists for a two-fold purpose: to build up the 
believers in its membership into the image of Jesus ; and to 
evangelize the unconverted within the circle of its reach 
and influence. The church that best subserves this two- 
fold purpose is the best church. The church that resolves 
itself into a mutual admiration society; that values ele- 
gant surroundings in themselves, and not as means to the 
grand end of the church life, and as the appropriate ac- 
cessories of worship; that finds aesthetic pleasure in fine 
music and poetical preaching, and is disturbed by a call to 
work, — ^lives but in name, and is dead. It ought to be 



266 ziK flew l^orft of ^cetctbw^ 

buried before it becomes a stench in the nostrils of the 
community. The world delights in earnestness. It re- 
serves all its rewards for the earnest. Worldly people 
respect a church precisely in proportion to its enthusiastic 
devotion to its work. And in this God and the world are 
agreed. 

"As we seat ourselves to-day beneath these stately 
arches, and gather for our first regular service of worship, 
it is good for us to recall these truths; indeed, they inevi- 
tably flower out of this history of eighty years. The voices 
that speak to us from the past, and those other tones that 
address us out of the future, unite to bid us plant deep in 
our hearts the love of right, and grow from this the firm 
purpose of duty. When we are full of Christ, oui church 
will be full of Christians. 

"Then Pentecostal influence will radiate from beneath 
these gables, and the Holy Spirit will be domesticated in 
Bloomingdale . " 

This address with an account of the dedication and 
fellowship services was published in 1886, under the 
title of The History of Eighty Years and has preserved 
much data which otherwise would have been lost. 
The Consistory expressed in September of that year 
the appreciation of the labor of the President and 
Clerk in preparing that work. Acknowledgment is 
made to it especially for the history of this edifice. 
The Church remained open for inspection during the 
winter. The hope was expressed in the Consistory 
which had been a movable body heretofore, assembling 
where it was agreed it should, that it might now have a 
permanent home. Recently it had met at Mr. 
Emmons's, at Mr. Wood's, at Mr. Reed's office, and in 
the lecture room of the 71st Street Chapel. The 
Church Masters reported on the 5 th, that this building 
had been entirely dismantled. The organ had been 



^be Cburcb at IbareenvlUe 267 

removed to the chapel of the new church, the chairs, 
settees, carpets, etc., had been made use of, the chan- 
deliers put up in the new Sabbath-school room where 
also had been removed the desk and the organ of the 
lecture room. Elder Reed was authorized to dis- 
pose of the building for $1500 cash, provided the 
purchaser remove it and that the bell be retained. 
In December, the President announced the receipt 
of a letter from Rev. S. H, Virgin "accepting the 
offer of the old church to his congregation for $1500." 
This was later withdrawn. The Committee on Sunday- 
school Visitation stated that the school was elegantly 
housed and thoroughly equipped for active work. 
Brother Dunlap had been elected Superintendent. 
The new room was formally opened on November ist, 
the pastor presiding. Appropriate addresses were 
made, and the children of the New York Orphan 
Asylum welcomed. The first regular session of the 
school on the 8th found 269 scholars present and 30 
teachers. It was thought to be the largest and best 
school north of 59th Street. The sincere thanks of the 
Consistory were tendered to Elder Reed, not only as 
architect, but also for his untiring efforts on behalf 
of the church. 

Contract for the sale of the eight lots between 71st 
and 7 2d Streets, Eighth and Ninth Avenues, on which 
the chapel stood, was executed with David L. Phillips 
on December 8, 1886. Consideration: $130,000. Dea- 
con William J. Lyon presented a letter on January 
6, 1887, stating his reasons for declining another term 
in office, whereupon it was resolved that the thanks of 
Consistory be tendered him for his services in the 
Board, rendered in the hour of need, and assuring him 
at his retirement of its respect and appreciation. 



268 Zhc "Wew l?ork of l^caterbai^ 

Attendance at the Sunday-school for the year 1886 
aggregated 9951 pupils. On the roll, 337. The 
pastor's stipend was raised to $4000, beginning 
January i, 1887. On October 6th of this year, Elders 
Reed and Stout were appointed a committee to prepare 
and put in position, one on either side of the pulpit 
in the auditorium, two tablets, one of which shall 
commemorate the gift of Jacob Harsen of an acre 
of land, and the other shall perpetuate the memory of 
the dead exhumed from the cemetery, the remains of 
Dr. Gttnn among them, which were placed at rest in a 
solid crypt of masonry prepared for them beneath the 
floor of the audience room. These tablets were put 
in place prior to the first Sabbath in November, which 
date marked the second anniversary of the opening 
services in the church. The pastor delivered an ap- 
propriate address at the unveiling. Instead of the 
spot selected as designated above, it seemed more 
desirable to locate them elsewhere. The monu- 
mental tablet to the honor of Domine van Aken 
was inaugurated on the north wall of the lower 
vestibule. 

This epitaph is inscribed on that to Mr. Harsen : 

SACRED TO THE MEMORY 
OF 
JACOB HARSEN. 
ONE OF THE FOUNDERS AND FATHERS OF THIS CHURCH. 
BORN MARCH 5, 1750. DIED JULY 24, 1835. 

His generous gift of land in the year 1809 furnished, 

under Divine Providence, the means with which 

this edifice was erected. 

And by it, "he being dead, yet speaketh." 

Heb. xi., 4. 



Zbc Cburcb at Ibarsenvllle 269 

That to the sacred dead of the parish reads : 

BENEATH THIS TABLET 

IN A CRYPT PREPARED FOR THEM 

LIE THE REMAINS OF ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE 

PERSONS EXHUMED FROM THE PARISH 

CEMETERY WHICH OCCUPIED THE SPACE 

NOW COVERED BY THIS AUDITORIUM. 



THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE. 

I Cor. XV., 52. 

The Treasurer's report to January i, 1888 dis- 
closed the fact that $57,914.49 had been paid in taxes 
and assessments. Put this amount with those paid 
during Domine van Aken's administration together 
with the $50,000 or more saved to the congregation 
through his advantageous management and it will 
be realized how vast a burden had been levied on the 
Church estate and what a staggering load had to be 
carried and liquidated. It is not a cause of wonder 
that the encumbrances seemed too grievous to be 
borne and that pessimism, at seasons, ran its course 
through the Consistory. 

On the 8th instant it was moved and carried that 
thereafter the election of members of the Consistory 
be made by the Church itself and announcement of 
the change was directed to be made to the congrega- 
tion. Permission to alter the method was granted by 
Classis on April 28th, by which, instead of electing in 
Consistory, "a double number may be nominated by 
that Body, out of which the members of the Church in 
full communion may choose three who shall serve." 
Both methods were recognized by the Constitution. 
The latter way was a survival — a. return to the plan 
used in Dutch times when a double number of candi- 
dates was submitted to the Governor General of the 



2 70 Wdc t\c\o J?orft of IPeeterbai? 

Province, from whom he selected the officers to serve 
under him. The annual election was fixed for January 
at the close of the first weekly chapel service. Candi- 
dates were then put in nomination. 

After a service of fourteen months Deacon Gilder- 
sleeve tendered his resignation on April 6th. He 
regretted the emergency that had arisen which com- 
pelled the termination of the very pleasant and 
harmonious relations. Dr. E. H. Porter was elected to 
fill the vacancy. On the evening of Jan, 2d, 1889, 
the election under the new by-law resulted in the 
continuation in office of Elder Reed and Deacon 
Halsey and the selection of E. H. Schuyler as deacons. 

At the regular monthly meeting held in the pastor's 
study on March 7 th the chair was resigned to the 
Rev. Joseph Duryee of Grace Reformed Church at 
54th Street and Seventh Avenue. Thereupon Mr. 
Martyn presented this letter: 

To the Consistory of the 

Bloomingdale Reformed Church. 

Dear Brethren: 

It is with a heavy heart that I find myself constrained 
to ask you, and through you, the dear Church which I 
have begotten in the Gospel, to relieve me of my pastorate — 
just now, too, when the burden and heat of the day have 
been borne and the future looks so bright. 

I am, as you individually know, on the verge of nervous 
prostration caused by the intense strain of my more than six 
years' work among you — work which speaks for itself. 
If the Church were two years further on I would ask for 
a vacation of six months. As things are this would not be 
wise. The Church requires constant and active pastoral 
supervision; and I need immediate rest. Therefore I 
place in your hands my resignation as your pastor to take 



tTbe Cburcb at Ibarsenvllle 271 

effect September first next, and I would ask you to join 
me in an application to Classis, at the approaching regular 
meeting in April, to dissolve our delightful relation. 

I need not add, beloved brethren, that the Bloomingdale 
Church will ever hold a vital place in my heart and prayers, 
nor assure you that I cherish for you, individually and 
collectively, the most devoted and personal affection. 

May God bless us every one! Above and beyond all, 
God bless the Church! 

Your loving pastor, 

Carlos Martyn. 
Bloomingdale Parsonage, New York, 
March 6, 1889. 

In response to this communication Elder Reed 
offered the following resolutions Mrhich were unani- 
mously adopted: 

Whereas, the Rev. Carlos Martyn has thought proper 
to tender his resignation as pastor of the Bloomingdale 
Reformed Church, therefore be it 

Resolved, that it is with unfeigned sorrow and regret that 
we accept the resignation of our beloved pastor to take 
effect September next. Coming as it does as the result of 
overwork in connection with our Church it is doubly pain- 
ful. We recognize and testify to his faithful labors through 
the past six years and more in bringing our Church to its 
present position of usefulness and prominence. We also 
put on record our affection for him as a man. 

Resolved, in view of Mr. Martyn 's state of health, that 
after the first of April next he be relieved from the duties 
of the pastorate and that the Treasurer be and hereby 
is directed to pay him the sum of two thousand dollars, 
being the amount of his salary to September i 1889, and 
that the free use of the parsonage be continued to him so 
long as he may desire until the period when his resignation 
takes effect. 

Resolved that we heartily commend Mr. Martyn as an 



2 72 Zbc l^cxo IPorf; of ^cetevt^a^ 

able and instructive preacher, faithful pastor, and earnest 
and incessant worker. 

Resolved that the Clerk be and hereby is instructed to 
present our pastor with a certified copy of these resolutions 
with the assurance of our continued love and sympathy. 

Elder Reed was then appointed to co-operate with 
the pastor before Classis. 

On Mr. Martyn's retirement he assumed the pas- 
torate of the First Reformed Church (1890) Newark, 
N. J. In 1892 he was called to the Sixth Presbyterian 
Church, Chicago. Returning to the East he became 
connected with a publishing house in New York which 
failed disastrously (1902) and involved him in financial 
loss and great tribulation. In 1905 Mr. Martyn re- 
ceived a call to the Presbyterian Church at Noroton, 
Conn., a suburban residence for New Yorkers, where 
he is now laboring with much acceptance and success. 
Many of his literary works have had wide vogue — 
his Life of Wendell Phillips, for instance, and his Sour 
Saints and Sweet Sinners. Among his other works are 
the following : Martin Luther, The Pilgrim Fathers, The 
Dutch Reformation, The Puritans, The Huguenots, — all 
historical. In biography he edited the series of 
"Illustrious Americans" published by Funk and 
Wagnalls Co., to which he contributed the lives of 
Phillips above mentioned, of John B. Gough, and 
of William E. Dodge, Sr. He is also the author of 
a volume entitled Christian Citizenship and of many 
magazine and newspaper articles and has been the 
recipient of honorary titles and degrees. 

On the completion of the new building the architect 
advised that the contemplated spire be deferred until 
the walls had thoroughly settled and danger from rock 
blasting on nearby property be past. On March i. 





u*^^d/:t 




Portrait and signature of Rev. Madison C. Peters, D.D. 



Zhc Cburcb at IbarsenvUle 273 

1888 the Church Masters were deputized to examine 
the plans that had been filed for the building of the 
2 2d Regiment Armory on the block just to the south, 
in order to ascertain what effect the excavation for the 
foundation would have. It was not until March 28th 
of the following year that arrangement to erect the 
spire according to the original plans was made. Con- 
tract was entered into with Fordyce & Himpler in 
November for the sum of $10,000 and work was com- 
menced on June 6th and finished on August 8, 1890. 

At a meeting held on June 17 th the Committee on 
Pulpit Supply recommended calling the Rev. Madison 
C. Peters of Philadelphia as 

tTbe Sixtb /iBfnistei; 

to take effect from and after the first of September 
next at the salary of $4000 per annum and free use of 
the parsonage. From April ist the pulpit had been 
occupied by different clergymen. This letter was 
received under date of the 2 2d from the pastor-elect, 
viz: 

My dear Brethen: Your favor of the 20th inst., 
informing me of my election to the pastorate of the Bloom- 
ingdale Reformed Church has been received and prayerfully 
considered. I sincerely love my people here and parting 
would be one of the sorest experiences in my life. I have 
been with them five years and have almost grown up 
with them. I have decided, however, to accept your call 
for one reason only, because of your larger field of useful- 
ness. If my resignation will be accepted here and Pres- 
bytery dissolves my present relations I will be yours in 
service from September ist. 

I thank you for the unanimous call and all that it implies, 
18 



2 74 Zhe Iftew l?orft of IJeeterba^ 

I will try to prove myself worthy of your confidence 
and I ask your prayers for God's blessing and guidance. 

Yours in Christian Bonds, 

Madison C. Peters. 



A native of Lehigh County, Penn., where he was 
born Nov. 6, 1859, of German ancestry, the new pastor 
at the early age of fourteen had been obliged to leave 
the public school in order to take up the battle of life. 
He became a teacher and at fifteen entered Muhlenburg 
College, at AUentown and later Franklin and Marshall 
College, at Lancaster. He graduated at twenty-one 
from the Theological Department of Heidelberg Uni- 
versity at Tiffin, Ohio, having worked his way through 
these institutions by teaching and lecturing, a circum- 
stance which reflects the more credit on his manhood 
and courage. His public ministry began at Mulberry, 
Indiana, in the Reformed Church where he preached 
both in English and German. He removed to Terre 
Haute thereafter as stated supply but in a short time 
accepted a call to the Presbyterian Church at Ottawa, 
111. It is stated that here he was so successful that 
the edifice was inadequate to accommodate the number 
of people who came to hear him and that during the 
summer he was obliged to preach out of doors. At 
the age of twenty-four, Mr. Peters became pastor of the 
old First Presbyterian Church on Buttonwood Street, 
Philadelphia, one of the historic churches of the Quaker 
City where he remained for five years. His reputation 
for earnestness and eloquence had preceded him, and the 
call to Bloomingdale was perfected on October loth. 
His choice was not only that of the Consistory but 
of the whole congregation. Seldom does a pastor 
commence his work under brighter prospects; no 



^be Cburcb at Ibareenvllle 275 

strifes nor bickerings to heal, but all, with one accord, 
gave him a hearty welcome. Elder Stout resigned his 
office on October 3d. It was laid on the table. The 
parsonage had been put in thorough order at an ex- 
pense of over $800. At the beginning of the new 
pastorate the Sunday-school was divided into two 
sessions. That in the afternoon was attended ex- 
clusively by the inmates of the Orphan Asylum. Both 
schools were reported to be in flourishing condition. 
Daniel Howell was elected to succeed Elder Stout on 
January 8, 1890, and J. H. Lant, Elder Dunlap. An 
amendment to the by-laws was carried in April 
providing for an increase of the Consistory to eight mem- 
bers. An assessment for paving 68th Street, confirmed 
May, 1888, was paid in June. A new feature was 
introduced in October by adding to the musical exer- 
cises at the morning service singing by the orphan 
children. The innovation was well received and ap- 
parently highly appreciated. 

Agreeably to the rules a double number of names 
were nominated in January, 1891, to fill vacancies. 
From those submitted Charles Wessell was elected 
Elder and Runyon Pyatt and Dr. Richard J. Secor 
Deacons. Deacon Mastin was chosen to fill the place 
of Elder Reed, whose term would expire February ist, 
and Dr. Secor that of Dr. Halsey. Thus the Consistory 
was completed according to the requirements of the 
by-laws passed in April. The new members were 
ordained January 25th. 

Many applications for admission to the Sunday- 
school by the children of poor families in the neigh- 
borhood, many of whom were devoid of religious 
instruction, had been rejected because of the over- 
crowded condition of the rooms. It was thought that 



2 76 tTbe 1Rew IJork of IJesterbai? 

the first duty of the Church was to these children. In 
order to gain the necessary space a committee was 
delegated in January to request the Orphan Asylum to 
withdraw their children, they being the recipients of 
excellent religious training and having a chapel where- 
in a Sunday-school could be held. They were invited 
to continue in attendance on the church services. 
This, however, was discontinued in February, when 
the management of the Asylum transferred them to the 
Rutgers Presbyterian Church at Broadway and 73d 
Street (Rev. Dr. Robert Russell Booth, pastor). The 
number of scholars in the school continued to 
show a marked increase at each monthly report. 
In December the attendance was 250, and 75 at 
the Mission. The Consistory met in the Pastor's 
study regularly. 

On January 13, 1892, at the annual meeting for the 
selection of officers, Dr. Howell was re-elected Elder 
and Edward P. Cone to fill the place of Elder Lant. 
They were ordained the 31st. Wessell resigned in 
April. In December, a resolution providing for the 
appointment of an Advisory Board of nine pewholders 
was carried, whose duties should be to co-operate with 
the Consistory in the management of the temporal 
affairs of the church, to be selected at the regular 
meeting in January of each year. They should attend 
the regular meetings of the Consistory and be subject 
to the rules and regulations of the same. The by-laws 
were amended in accordance therewith. Section 2 of 
Article 3 provided that the joint Board shall be 
known as the Board of Officers of the Church and that 
the term "The Consistory" shall designate the legal 
representatives of the corporation, per se, as heretofore. 
Thereupon such Advisory Board was duly elected from 



Z\)c Cburcb at Ibareenville 277 

the names put in nomination, and was composed of the 
following gentlemen, viz. : 

B. Frank Hooper 130 W. 74th St. 

Louis Bauer 143 W. 69th 

Parker R. Whitcomb 161 W. 72d " 
Richard W. Akin 127 W. 69th " 

D. W. Comstock 122 W. 90th " 

Wm. James Goulding Hotel San Remo. 
J. Castree WilHams 60 W. 82nd St. 

James G. Portrous 180 W. 74th " 

Henry Daily, Jr. 131 W. 72d " 

William A. Moore was selected as Elder to fill the 
vacancy, and installed Jan. 29, 1893. A series of 
lectures and entertainments was given during this 
year under the supervision of the Entertainment 
Committee, and was attended with gratifying success. 
The spring session of the Particular Synod was held 
in May in the church edifice. 

James Graham Portrous, a member of the church 
and of the Advisory Board, departed this life Nov. 5, 
1893 and on December 7th it was resolved that "the 
Board of Officers loses a valued and respected member, 
one whose sympathies and efforts were continuously 
and conscientiously exercised on behalf of the Church 
and its work. Resolved that these resolutions be 
spread upon the minutes and a copy be sent to the fam- 
ily of our deceased brother, together with an ex- 
pression of our deep sympathy with them in their 
sore bereavement." The pastor, Mr. Peters, had now 
served as minister for four years, and to signalize this 
event a letter from him of date February i, 1894, was 
received reviewing the work accomplished and pre- 
dicting greater usefulness in the future to the members 
and the neighborhood. Over two hundred persons had 
accepted Christ, the roll of the Sabbath-school had 



278 Zbc Ticxo l?orft of l?e0tert)ap 

increased to some five hundred and fifty children, 
and the attendance on divine service had crowded the 
auditorium. The steady increase in freewill offerings 
was noticeable, the poor had been ministered to in the 
kindest and most unobtrusive manner, and the church 
activities had progressed in a satisfactory manner. 
He returned thanks to the Consistory and the members 
of the Advisory Board for their kindly counsel and 
constant co-operation. 

The Rev. Samuel H. Seem was engaged in Novem- 
ber, 1894, to assist in Sunday-school and general 
pastoral work. Individual communion cups were in- 
troduced in April, 1895. T^® President and Clerk 
executed a document on November 8th granting per- 
mission to the Metropolitan R. R. Co. to build their 
railway in front of the church edifice. In April, 1897, a 
stand was erected for the enjoyment of the members 
from which to review the parade in honor of the dedica- 
tion of the mausoleum of General Grant in Riverside 
Park. Another member of the Advisory Board, Mr. R. 
W. Akin, died, and on November 8th a letter of sym- 
pathy was addressed to his daughter. Miss Catherine 
Akin. A resolution was passed February 3, 1898, in 
opposition to the construction of an elevated railroad on 
the Boulevard. An echo of the impending war with 
Spain and the possible calling out of the National 
Guard was heard at the session of the Board in April, 
1898. The pastor, who was Chaplain of the 9th 
Regiment, and did service with that command, was 
granted on the 24th a leave of absence of four months, 
with pay, on the understanding that he should furnish 
a pulpit supply. 

On November 3, 1898, at a regular business meeting 
of the Officers held in the parsonage. Dr. Peters ten- 



ZTbe Cbutcb at IbateenvUIe 279 

dered his resignation in an informal manner, and on 
November 29th it was laid on the table and a committee, 
consisting of J. Edward Mastin, Chairman, and Elder 
Daily and Deacon Pyatt, appointed to confer with 
him, that the severance of the relation of pastor and 
people be prevented if possible. As a result of this 
method of procedure, the pastor withdrew his res- 
ignation and the committee was discharged. The 
church life proceeded along the usual lines for another 
year, when Dr. Peters again submitted his resignation. 
This communication was enclosed : 

To My Dear People: 

I have sent to the Consistory my resignation as Pastor 
of the Bloomingdale Church and have requested them to 
unite with me in asking the New York Classis to dissolve 
our pleasant relationship as Pastor and People. My sole 
reason for resigning this position of power and influence 
is that, after many years of honest and prayerful investi- 
gation, I have come to the deliberate conclusion that the 
Bible — the Protestant's only rule of faith — ^teaches baptism 
for believers only. 

I am a minisiter of the Reformed Church, and while I 
am thus connected I shall not give my reasons for this 
change of conviction. I love the Reformed Church. It is 
the Church of my Fathers. I admire its breadth and depth. 
Those who have attended my ministry through all these 
years will bear me witness that I have always been a loyal 
son and I had fondly hoped that I could serve my denomi- 
nation in this Church with my riper years, as I gave it 
the ardor of my youth. But I must be true to myself; 
practise only what I believe and preach what I can practise. 
To you, my dear people, whose kindly counsel, unwavering 
loyalty, and generous support in every good work have 
made my labors both pleasant and successful, I give my 
heartiest thanks. 



2 8o Ebc Vicxo IPorft of IJeeterba^ 

My congregation is composed of not less than eleven 
different denominations of Protestants, while in addition 
to these hundreds of Jews and Catholics have constantly 
attended my ministry. I thank God to-day that He has 
permitted me to bring His Message to such various minds 
and hearts as have usually gathered within these walls. 
All except eleven persons came into this Church during 
my ministry of nearly eleven years. I have, therefore, 
and always shall have, a peculiar love for and an undying 
interest in the Bloomingdale Church. 

For your love, I give you my love, and for your prayers, 
my prayers. 

Your pastor and friend, 

Madison C. Peters. 

January 27, 1900. 

This letter was presented at the meeting held Feb- 
ruary ist, and the following resolution was thereupon 
offered by Elder Mastin and seconded by General 
Mindil and Mr, Dillenbeck, and was carried, viz.: 

The present relations between Dr. Peters and every 
member of this Board have been of such a cordial char- 
acter that our duty to-night is neither enviable nor pleasant. 
In presenting his resignation on doctrinal grounds the 
Doctor leaves us no alternative but to accept it. Yet we 
cannot do so except with reluctance when we remember 
our many pleasant associations, his many agreeable and 
instructive discourses and the familiar relations estab- 
lished between Pastor and People. The Doctor has ex- 
pressed a wish that he should be relieved immediately. 
I therefore move that his resignation be accepted, to take 
effect on the first day of March, 1900, as suggested in his 
letter of resignation. 

Dr. Peters was sincere in his conscientious convic- 
tions, and on leaving his charge entered the Baptist 



Zhe Cburcb at Ibareenville 



2»I 



fold. As a minister of this denomination he preached 
in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Large 
audiences were attracted at these services, especially 
in Philadelphia, where every Sunday evening the Park 
Theatre was filled to hear his discourses. In 1905 
he accepted a call to the Church of the Epiphany at 
Madison Avenue and 64th Street, N. Y. City. Here he 
continued for but a space, when his desire for a larger 
freedom of speech and a greater opportunity towards 
the betterment of the masses led him to resign in 
December, 1906, to inaugurate a non-sectarian nove- 
ment in the Majestic Theatre in an effort to reach 
the vast army of the unchurched. In this sphere of 
public usefulness, he has met with unqualified success 
and, as his sermons are widely syndicated, he reaches 
a much wider circle than if he had maintained his 
connection with any single church congregation. His 
reputation as a writer is world-wide. He is the author 
of forty books. Perhaps the best known is Justice 
to the Jews, which has run through many editions 
and been translated into many European tongues. 
The Jews in' America and The Jew as a Patriot 
have also come from his facile pen. Other works 
of Dr. Peters are entitled The Great Hereafter, Sanc- 
tified Spice, Empty Pews, Will the Coming Man 
Marry ? The Man Who Wins, and The Panacea for 
Poverty. 

As a writer, Dr. Peters is terse, brilliant, and epigram- 
matic. He hits at sin and hits it hard, but yet he loves 
the sinner. When he sees a public wrong, he tackles 
it with ungloved hands; he has given crime in this 
city some telling blows. Personally, he is one of the 
most lovable and kindly of men; he has a magnetism 
about him that attracts, and he meets you with the 



282 Zbc "Wew ©orft ot IJesterbap 

genial smile and warm grasp of friendship: his great, 
big heart goes out to the poor and the suffering and 
the downtrodden of every class and creed, and the cry of 
the orphan and the sigh of the widow never appeal 
to him in vain. In a word, Dr. Peters spends his life 
doing all the good he can to the greatest number he 
can, in all the ways he can, and he is succeeding in his 
mission. 

The Rev. William Walton Clark presided at a special 
meeting on February i8th, at which proceedings were 
taken to dissolve the pastoral relation. The Clerk 
was directed to inform the Classis of the passage of a 
resolution to that effect. The Manhattan Congrega- 
tional Church had been lately inaugurated, and some 
movement looking to a consolidation of the two 
churches agitated. For this reason, a committee, 
on which served Messrs Mastin, Pyatt, Dillenbeck, and 
Goulding, was appointed to confer with the Trustees 
of the former body. The Rev. Dr. Elmendorf of the 
Collegiate Church supplied the pulpit on March 4th 
and arrangements were made with other ministers 
for further needs. The advisability of union was 
referred to Classis and a meeting thereof was held at 
the Marble Collegiate Church on the morning of April 
30th. The entire committee was present. Dr. A. G. 
Vermilye submitted the report, which decided against 
consolidation, and it was unanimously accepted as the 
sentiment of Classis. The following day this decision 
was forwarded to the Manhattan Church, in a com- 
munication which ended in these words: 

While the negotiations for a merger, begun under such 
pleasant auspices, must under the circumstances be dis- 
continued, we cannot dismiss the subject without a thought 
of the pleasant and fraternal feelings which have been 




Portrait and signature of Rev. William C. Stinson, D.D. 



^be Cburcb at fbar^envUle 283 

developed among the members of both churches and which 
we trust may be continued, notwithstanding a more 
intimate relationship be not established, 

XLbe Seventb ISSmistct 

The list of clergymen who supplied the pulpit during 
April included the Rev. Dr. William Charles Stinson 
of Chillicothe, Ohio, who preached on the 2 2d, and as 
a result the Consistory unanimously decided on May 
3d to extend a call to him. Graduated from Princeton 
Theological Seminary in 1889, he was ordained by 
the Presbytery of Monmouth, the same year. After 
filling several small pastorates with credit and ability, 
he was called in 1895 to the First Presbyterian Church 
of Chillicothe, Ohio, where he met with eminent and 
signal success. He left his work there for the broader 
fields and greater responsibilities of the metropolis, 
feeling that God had distinctly indicated to him that 
it was His will that he should do so ; and, while not un- 
mindful of the great opportunities here to be met, 
he realized that patient effort and thorough devotion 
to the cause of Christ and the needs of mankind could 
alone crown his ministry with success. He came to 
Bloomingdale with strong and abundant testimonials, 
not only of his record as a sincere, earnest, and able 
minister of the Gospel, but with many tributes to his 
scholarly abilities and his kind and sympathetic 
character as a Christian gentleman. 

The Rev, Henry Evertson Cobb presided at a special 
meeting of the Board of Officers which convened on 
Sunday morning, May 20th, immediately after service, 
at which time it was resolved that a formal call to 
Dr. Stinson be made. This was done the following 
day. The letter of acceptance of the call was as follows : 



2 84 JS^c t\cvo IPorh of IPeaterbap 

Chillicothe, Ohio, June ist, 1900, 

To J. Edward Mastin, President of the 
Consistory of the Bloomingdale Reformed 
Church, New York City. 

My dear Sir and Brother: 

I have in hand a formal call from the Bloomingdale 
Reformed Church, to become its pastor. Since the receipt 
of the call, my mind and heart have been in a condition 
of exceeding unrest, owing to the conflicting thoughts and 
motives produced by this invitation. The idea of leaving 
the delightful and prosperous pastorate with which God 
has honored me in this city brings so severe a wrench of 
the heart that I have been tempted to answer the call in 
the negative. The thought of entering upon a new and 
untried field in a city where many influences hinder the 
progress of Christ's Kingdom has placed a severe test upon 
me as to my fitness for a Metropolitan pastorate. I feel 
honored to think that you deem me qualified to take the 
place of leader and shepherd of the Bloomingdale Church. 
The most prayerful seriousness has characterized my 
reflections upon all the issues involved. 

Allow me to be frank enough to say that I have inquired 
of many brethren of the New York ministry as to the 
future prospects of the Bloomingdale Church and in every 
instance I have been assured that the environment is most 
favorable for the building up of a strong, flourishing church 
of Jesus Christ. I am aware of the present weakened 
condition of the church, but from what I have both seen 
and heard of the church's possibilities, I am persuaded 
to believe that with sublime faith in the great Head of the 
Church, with prayerful, heroic, strenuous co-operation of 
pastor and people, a great work for God and humanity 
may yet be done by the Bloomingdale Church. Depending 
more upon the judgment and opinion of what judicious, 
far-seeing clergymen in New York tell me than my own 
observations, I see no reason why this church may not 



Zhc Cburcb at Ibarsenville 285 

become one of the most influential and potent factors for 
righteousness in the MetropoHs. 

In view of these considerations I heartily accept the call 
tendered me. There are only two things that I ask of the 
Bloomingdale Church in this acceptance, viz. confidence 
and co-operation. Let me be assured of these relations, 
and with Christ to charge our hearts and lives with His 
divine spirit and energy, success shall crown our efforts 
in the salvation and sanctification of hundreds of human 
souls. 

The work will be hard, but God has given me a passion 
for hard work, both in and out of the pulpit. As a minister 
of the Gospel, I know only two things, preaching and pas- 
toral visitations, and if I were asked which of these two 
functions is the more important, I would answer, each 
is more important than the other. 

A sense of profound gratitude and joy possesses me, as 
I think how God has opened a door of opportunity and 
service before me in the city of my birth. 

My earnest prayer is that when in the early autumn, 
by God's providence, we, as pastor and people, standing 
side by side, with our faces turned toward a future so full 
of promise, prayer, purpose, and persistence, may hear 
and obey the message of old : "Speak now unto thy people 
that they go forward." Let that be our watchword. 

In the meanwhile permit me to urge upon every member 
and friend the heartiest loyalty to Bloomingdale Church. 
One evidence of friendship between members and friends 
is unfaltering devotion to the church in all its diversified 
interests and various activities. May the dear Lord 
graciously bless and keep you, your families, your loved 
ones, and in His appointed time bring us together in the 
fellowship of His love and in the joy of His service. 

With "grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and 
Jesus Christ our Lord," I am, 

Sincerely yours in the bonds of the gospel, 

William C. Stinson. 



286 ^be IRevo IPorft of l^eeterba^ 

The letter was read to the people by Elder Mastin 
on June loth, and it was resolved to close the edifice 
until September i6th. During the interim, electric 
lighting was introduced, heating apparatus installed, 
organ repaired and electric motor added, and the au- 
ditorium and parsonage redecorated and recarpeted. 
Dr. Stinson was duly ordained at the opening service 
in the autumn and entered upon his labors with every 
indication of earnest endeavor for a successful ministry. 
Resolutions of regret were passed on November ist 
at the death of Elder Daily, which occured on October 
25th. He had acted as attorney for the Church 
Corporation for many years. On November 5th the 
following tribute from the Session of the church with 
which Dr. Stinson was formerly connected was pre- 
sented and read : 

To THE Elders and Deacons of 
Bloomingdale Church, New York — Greeting. 

Dear Brethren: 

The Session of the First Presbyterian Church of Chilli- 
cothe, Ohio, wishing to express their great appreciation of 
their late pastor, the Rev. Dr. William C. Stinson, and to 
congratulate you upon the possession of such a man for 
your pastor, adopted the following: 

Whereas our pastor, William C. Stinson D.D. felt it 
his duty to ask for the dissolution of the pastoral relation 
existing between himself and the First Presbyterian Church, 
of Chillicothe, Ohio, and the Session and Congregation, 
with regret, joined in his request to the Presbytery, 
wanting to keep him, but unwilling to stand between him 
and what he regarded as a call of God; therefore. 

Resolved: that Dr. Stinson did a great work for this 
church. By his devotion to the work committed to him 
and his excellent ability, through the favor of our Lord, 



^be Cburcb at Ibarsenvllle 287 

he largely increased the number of our communicants, and 
this by constantly, with great industry and wisdom, 
looking after the wants of the church and faithfully preach- 
ing the gospel of the Kingdom. 

2nd. His work was not confined to the church, but he 
interested himself in every good work in the community. 
He was a man of great public spirit and had boundless 
compassion for all the poor and unfortunate, added to his 
earnest desire for the advancement of the cause of God 
and the uplifting of his Church. 

3rd. We do most heartily commend him to you, the 
Elders and Deacons of the Bloomingdale Church, and to 
all the members of your congregation, as a faithful pastor, 
an earnest preacher, a true friend and a manly and upright 
man, in whom you can put your trust, who will work for 
you and with you in every good word and work. 

That the blessing of Almighty God may be upon him 
and you, building you up in faith and righteousness, adding 
to you all temporal and multiplying to you all spiritual 
gifts, is our prayer. 



Session of the First Presbyterian 
Church, Chillicothe, Ohio. 



Albert E. Cutler 
a. l. fullerton 
E. P. VAN Meter 
Theodore Spetnagel 
M. C. Hopewell 



This letter was appropriately answered on the 7 th. 
From a sketch written by the Rev. W. H. Fishbum, 
D.D., Dr. Stinson's predecessor in the pastorate at 
Chillicothe, these additional data are taken: 

Born in New York city in i860 of Scotch-Irish parentage. 
Dr. Stinson is a type of the self-made man. He has labori- 
iously worked his own way up to the commanding position 
he now holds. His childhood was a childhood of much 
self-denial and hardship. 

His father was a soldier in the Civil War and was disabled. 



288 ^be flew 13ork of l^esterba^ 

so that the boy was compelled to get up in the world by- 
struggling up. He accepted his destiny and faced the 
conditions. By persistent effort he worked his own way 
through University and Seminary, winning prizes in the 
classical tongues and in oratory from both Bucknell 
University and Princeton Theological Seminary, from 
which institutions he graduated respectively in 1886 and 
1889. The University of Wooster conferred on him the 
Doctor's degree. 

Dr. Stinson has made for himself in the ministry a 
record which any clergyman might envy. Whatever he 
has undertaken has been a conspicuous success. Endowed 
by nature with a strong body, an inflexible will, a keen 
intellect, a sympathetic heart, and rare administrative 
talent, he has been able to comm.and the attention of 
thinking and progressive men. 

Before going to Chillicothe he was pastor of a large and 
flourishing church in Providence, R. I. During his min- 
istry of five years as pastor of the First Presbyterian 
Church of Chillicothe, Ohio, he added above four hundred 
members to that church, paid off a church debt which 
went into five figures, and vitalized every department of 
ecclesiastical work. His church was thronged with wor- 
shippers and the whole city felt his influence for good.' 
He preached and practised civic righteousness, and was 
able to correct evils and remedy abuses which had existed 
there for many years. 

Dr. Stinson possesses a mind fully equipped by scho- 
lastic training to grapple with the burning problems of 
the day; his reading enables him to bring before his hearers 
the great truths and to deliver them with startling empha- 
sis. He is a preacher who believes in growth and ongoing 
and he thrills and interests all listeners, and leads them 
to a higher plane of thinking and living. 

The following officers were the first elected (Jan. 9, 
1 901) under the new regime Messrs. Mastin, Pyatt, and 



TTbe Cburcb at Ibarsenvllle 289 

Genl. Mindil, Elders, and Mersereau and Dillenbeck, 
Deacons. Deacon Wagner continued in office. In 
December, a committee was appointed to ascertain 
the value of the church property should it be deemed 
advisable to sell. Another year passed before action 
was taken looking to a change of location. Dr. 
Stinson, Elders Mastin and Pyatt were deputized to 
take it into consideration and on October 29, 1902, 
the West End Avenue site was suggested; and at a 
special meeting held November 6th the congregation 
unanimously voted to sell and the Consistory was 
authorized to reinvest the net proceeds at such time, 
on such terms, and in such way as their judgment might 
dictate. The financing of the operation was placed 
by vote in Treasurer Mastin's hands. The Sabbath- 
school continued in a very flourishing condition. A 
memorial service in commemoration of the late Charles 
Summer Lester was held on the 15 th of November, 
1903, and a testimonial to his memory was passed. 
Mr. Lester had served the Sabbath-school as Superin- 
tendent for several years and had faithfully fulfilled 
the duties with marked ability and discretion and al- 
ways with a high regard for the responsibilities of the 
position. A memorial tablet was authorized to be 
placed in the school chapel as a visible expression of 
the greater invisible work which he wrought in the 
lives of many who will rise up to call him blessed. 
This was dedicated at a service held by the school 
on March 26, 1904, and during the exercises a handsome 
brass lectern was presented to it by Mr. Lester's 
family, a legacy requested of them during his last mo- 
ments on earth. 

Elder Pyatt offered a resolution on February 15, 
1905, to sell the ecclesiastical property and to purchase 



2 go Zhc ticvo 13orft of ©eeterbap 

a new site on West End Avenue at io6th Street, which 
was passed. Thus was closed a question which had 
been a bone of contention for some years and was 
the result of a conclusion that the neighborhood was 
"overchurched." Within a half mile there were three 
Episcopal, two Presbyterian, two Lutheran, one Re- 
formed, one Congregational, one Methodist, and one 
Christian Science church. The congregation had 
moved further up the island and in the irresistible 
upward movement of population, the church must 
follow. This decision was not reached without some 
opposition, and in deference to that sentiment it was 
determined to take down the edifice stone by stone 
and put it together again at the new location. It 
was with sincere regret and sorrow that the old site, 
and the edifice which was endeared by so many sacred 
associations, were abandoned. 

Deacon Hawes announced at a special meeting of the 
Board April 24th that the negotiations for the sale 
had been completed at $260,000 and the committee 
had agreed to purchase lots at the above location for 
$160,000. Thereupon the Trustees authorized that 
application to the Supreme Court be made for per- 
mission to carry out the agreement. A letter from 
Senior Elder Mastin was read May 4th, in which he 
tendered his resignation, giving as a reason his opposi- 
tion to the contemplated removal. Spread on the 
minutes is to be found a statement of the deep pain 
experienced at the receipt of this letter and the regret 
that it was caused by a difference of opinion, and 
that the Elder's private and public insistence upon the 
acceptance of this resignation forced the alternative 
of conceding to his wishes. Resolutions were passed 
expressive of the sincere and hearty appreciation of 



tTbe Cburcb at Ibareenvllle 291 

his long, faithful, and efficient services in numerous 
capacities, and his deep solicitude in guarding and 
fostering the spiritual life of the church. It is recorded 
that "it is doubtful if ever any church has had so 
dutiful, so careful, so trustworthy a treasurer as this 
church has had in the person of Mr. Mastin. " A copy 
of this unusual tribute was ordered to be forwarded to 
him and doubtless will prove a proud and lasting trea- 
sure to be left to his posterity. After the last prayer- 
meeting, which took place Wednesday evening May 3d, 
the minister and several members of the Consistory 
explained to the assemblage the reasons which had 
impelled the move. The last Sabbath service was held 
in the auditorium on May 28th, and the final function 
in the old building was a strawberry festival and en- 
tertainment in the Chapel by the Christian Endeavor 
Society on June ist. 

The title was finally passed at the office of the Title 
Guarantee & Trust Co., on May 19th, to the purchaser, 
Franklin Pettit. The beautiful marble structure with 
its graceful spire, which had dominated the region for 
over twenty years and was recognized as a centre 
of religious work and Christian influence, had been so 
far removed by October that on the fourth of that 
month permission was granted by the Health Depart- 
ment to remove the remains of the Bloomingdale 
members of the second House of Worship from the 
crypt. Quite a crowd was attracted to the spot by 
the mistaken rumor that relics, buried in the graves or 
vaults, might be found, and some arrests followed. 
During the months of June, August, and part of Sep- 
tember the congregation worshipped with that of the 
West End Collegiate Church at West End Avenue 
and 77th Street. Thereafter, services were held in 



292 Zbc IRew IPorft of IJesterba^? 

Leslie Hall, southwest corner of Broadway and 83d 
Street, until the 

jffftb Ibouse of Traocsbtp 

was completed. 

Plans for the new edifice were filed during July with 
the Building Superintendent. The firm of Ludlow & 
Valentine were the architects intrusted with the work, 
which progressed so slowly that it was not until Sunday, 
November 12th, that the corner-stone was laid. From 
the Christian Intelligencer we learn that the service 
was impressive in its orderly dignity and inspiring 
through the hearty participation of a large audience. 
The singing of hymns and anthems was led by a choir 
of men. Dr. Stinson presided with a reverent enthu- 
siasm that was an inspiration to the assisting clergy- 
men. The Scripture lesson was read by the Rev. 
Edgar Tilton, Jr., D.D., of the Second Collegiate Church 
of Harlem; the Rev. Edward B. Coe, D.D.,LL.D., 
Senior Minister of the Collegiate Church, led in prayer, 
and addresses were made by the Rev. Henry Evertson 
Cobb, D.D., of the West End Collegiate, the Rev. 
Joseph R. Duryee, D.D., of Grace Reformed, at Seventh 
Avenue and 54th Street, and the Rev. Abbott E. 
Kittredge, D.D., of the Madison Avenue Reformed, at 
5 7th Street. Deacon Hawes read an historical statement 
that briefly and clearly set forth the story of one 
hundred years of corporate life. This paper, together 
with copies of the Bible, Church Liturgy, and journals of 
the day, was placed in the massive comer-stone. With 
solemn words of faith this was truly set in place by 
the pastor. The writer's mind reverts to old associa- 
tions in these well chosen words : 

To one, at least, it seemed as though Dr. Livingston, 




THE BLOOMINGDALE REFORMED CHURCH 
Fifth House of Worship. Bloomingdale Square 



^be Cburcb at Ibateenvllle 293 

who presided at the first organization, offered his bene- 
diction. He seemed to see the form of Dr. Gunn, its first 
pastor. It was his only charge and for a score of years he 
labored with an earnestness and hopefulness that made 
his name a power in the old city. Then God took him to 
the higher service. Dr. Kip appeared, not as an old bent 
man, but in the fresh beauty of his early ministry; and 
then he saw again dear old Dr. van Aken, who for fifty 
years, mostly full of trials and sorrows, kept alive the light 
of the Church. 

While awaiting the completion of the edifice let 
us now revert to another feature of the work of con- 
struction. Mrs. George Henry Gilbert, the charming 
artist and Christian woman, who had been a member 
of the church for many years and who was always in 
her pew when the exigencies of her profession allowed 
of her being in the city, had passed from earth. A 
memorial in her honor was suggested and a committee 
from among her associates ^ was formed, which met on 
Saturday, May 2d, in furtherance of the project. 
A commemorative window, to be erected in her church 
home, was agreed on and a performance to benefit the 
fund arranged for. This took place at the Knicker- 
bocker Theatre, under the management of Daniel 
Frohman, on Tuesday afternoon, April 17th, at 1.30, 
when a large audience assembled to be entertained by a 
number of noted actors and actresses, among whom 
Clara Morris, Hattie Williams, and Lawrence D'Or- 
say were conspicuous. A number of others gener- 
ously volunteered their services and an uncommonly 

J This committee was composed of Dr. Stinson, Charles Frohman, 
Daniel Frohman, Mrs. George J. Gould, who as Edith Kingdon 
had played with Mrs. Gilbert, Miss Maude Adams, Miss Annie 
Russell, Mrs. Charles F. Terhune, Mrs. Albert Warren Kelsey, 
Runyon Pyatt, and John Drew. 



294 ^be Bew Uorfi of ipeeterbai? 

attractive program was presented. A substantial 
amount was added thereby towards the testimonial. 
At last, the building was so far finished that the 
Sabbath-school began its sessions there the first Sun- 
day in October, 1906. The formal opening of the 
auditorium was set for December i6th, and on that day^ 
before a large congregation, dedicatory services were 
held in the morning. The sermon was preached by 
the minister, fine musical selections by the choir under 
the direction of Signor P. F. del Campiglio rendered, 
and Treasurer Pyatt read a statement showing that 
the ground and building represented an outlay of 
$250,000. Fifty per cent, of the material from the 
former church edifice had been used in the construction 
of the new. This, the first opportunity for an ex- 
amination of the structure, confirmed previous impres- 
sions that the Building Committee, composed of Dr. 
Stinson and Elders Pyatt and Hawes, with the ex- 
perienced assistance of the architects, had produced a 
result gratifying in all respects, and had shown com- 
mendable taste in the interior furnishings of golden 
oak and green. The building is in Gothic style, with a 
fa§ade of limestone, and fiying buttresses springing 
from the further sides. A large central main entrance 
and two smaller side entrances allow of access and the 
entire fagade makes an imposing appearance. Taken 
as a whole, it forms one of the most beautiful of the 
many fine churches which adorn the west side. The 
interior is finished in stone, presenting the aspect of a 
cathedral, and contains a gallery and a three-story 
annex with Sunday-school rooms, chapel, and pastor's 
study. An avenue frontage of seventy-five feet and a 
depth of one hundred feet on a site redolent of Revolu- 
tionary memories give ample space for the present 




THE PYATT MEMORIAL 
Designed by John La Farge, Esq. 



^be (Tburcb at IbaraenvUle 295 

activities of the congregation; and the location at the 
junction of two thoroughfares, one the main artery 
of the city, and Bloomingdale Square, a breathing spot 
which is even now an oasis between the great Central 
and Riverside Parks, was a felicitous selection which 
will be more and more appreciated as the trees attain 
larger growth. The contracting builders were John B. 
Roberts & Co., the same firm which constructed the 
fourth House of Worship, and the large organ is the 
result of the combined experience of the houses of 
Jardine and Kimball. The dead of the parish, re- 
moved from Harsenville, lie in a receptacle built in 
the wall, and the memorial tablet to their memory 
has been re-erected above their remains. 

The centenary of the incorporation was celebrated 
at II o'clock on the morning of Sunday, December 23d, 
at which a brief review of the past was pronounced by 
Dr. Stinson and the sermon was delivered by Dr. Coe. 
At the vesper service at 4 o'clock, words of greeting 
were spoken by the Rev. Drs. Cobb, Robert Mackenzie 
of Rutgers Presbyterian Church, and Tilton. The 
following Sunday, December 30 th, witnessed the final 
exercises connected with the inauguration of the new 
enterprise, when at the morning service the Pyatt 
window, a beautiful memorial erected to the memory 
of the parents of Elder and Mrs. Runyon Pyatt, was 
unveiled. 

Runyon Pyatt I was the sixth child of John and 
Elizabeth, born 1771 (Runyon) Pyatt. He m. Cornelia 
Lawrence, daughter of John Green and Mile. Marie 
Blanchard of New Brunswick, N. J. Their sixth child, 
Runyon m. Emma Virginia Duryee. The progenitor 
of the Runyon family in America was Vincent Runyon, 
a Huguenot, fourth in descent from Edward Fuller, the 



296 ZTbe IRew l?orft of IPeaterba^ 

2ist signer of the Mayflower compact, who m., July 17, 
1668, Ann Boutcher. They had nine children, the 
seventh of whom, Peter, b. 1680, m. Providence 
Blackford. Their ninth child, Benjamin, b. 1729, m. 
Ann van Court 1749, whose twelfth child was Elizabeth, 
the wife of John Pyatt. 

The Duryee family come from Jost Duryee, a 
French Huguenot who was b. 1729, settled in Blawen- 
burg, N. J., 1753, and became the ancestor of the clan in 
the United States. Of his eight children, William, b. 
1765, m. Anna Berrien, whose one son, Henry, b. 1786, 
a colonel in the war of 181 2, m. Sarah Williamson. 
She descended from John Williamson of Holland, who 
reached America in 1661 and m. Catherine Ten Broeck, 
whose ancestor Wessel Wesselsen Ten Broeck came 
here from Westphalia on the ship Faith, circa 1649-50. 
The sixth child of Henry and Sarah Duryee was 
Henry, b. 1821, who m. Mary Q. ' Baker, fourth in 
descent from Matthew Baker, an Englishman who 
settled in New Jersey 1700. Their sixth child, Emma 
Virginia Duryee, m. Runyon Pyatt. 

Before a number of theatrical folk, the Gilbert 
testimonial was unveiled at the afternoon service at 
2.30 o'clock. The stage friends of the late actress 
were greatly outnumbered by those of the congregation 
that knew her apart from her profession. Dr. Stinson 
delivered an address on the virtues of Mrs. Gilbert, 
which had reflected honor both upon the church and 
stage, in the course of which he referred to her as the 
sweetest and saintliest old lady of the theatrical 
profession. He adverted to the odd circumstance that 
in her seventy years on the stage she had never become 
a star until the closing year of her life, when a play 
entitled Granny was especially written for her by 




THE GILBERT MEMORIAL 
Designed by John La Farge, Esq. 



Ebe Cburcb at IbarscnvlIIe 297 

Clyde Fitch, and ended by saying that " it so happened 
that on her way to be an angel Mrs. Gilbert had stopped 
to be a star." The window, an artistic example of 
the work of John La Farge, to whom are credited the 
Pyatt memorial and all the other windows of the 
church, occupies the space directly over the main 
doorway facing the east, and its beauty is greatly 
emphasized when illuminated by the morning sun. 
The lower section shows Mary and the angel at the 
tomb, with the ascending Christ above. 

These two memorials form a conspicuously hand- 
some and permanent feature of the new House of 
Worship. We are assured that here, under the minis- 
trations of Dr. Stinson, who has endeared himself to 
all the people of his charge, by his sincerity, zeal, and 
untiring work, his genial sympathy, no less than his 
magnetic eloquence, the traditions of the century-old 
organization will be preserved in historic sequence and 
the new House of Worship become a permanent monu- 
ment to the glory of God and the spread of His king- 
dom on earth. 



VII 
among ©lt)*time ^families 

3fCW churches in the city have a more distinguished 
ecclesiastical lineage. Many individuals of note, as well 
of national as of local and State celebrity, have been 
connected with it. In chronological succession some of 
these worthies are herein sketched, and, as a member 
of societies whose object is the furtherance of his- 
torical, biographical, and genealogical research, the 
author has carefully collected and -preserved data of 
that description, in this chapter. 

The names of the founders appear naturally at the 
head of the list of members of the Church. Jacob 
Harsen joined on certificate dated October 29, 1808, and 
Hopper and Webbers in the same manner, their letters 
bearing date, however, eight days earlier. We in- 
fer that Striker joined on confession. His second wife, 
Mary (Polly), was the daughter of John and Jemima 
(Hopper) Horn, and became the first member accepted 
after the names of the founders. She was much be- 
loved by the poor, was a regular visitor to the N. Y. 
Orphan Asylum, the nearest elemosynary institution 
to her home, and to the Blind Asylum, and Second 
Directress of the N. Y. Infant School Society founded 
in May, 1827, "under the patronage of the late Gov- 
ernor Clinton." Its mission was to open schools where 

298 



amon^ ©IMIme ifamilles 299 

teachers were trained and qualified to open other 
schools. She remained connected with the church 
to the end of her days, although for many years prior 
thereto she had resided at Tribes Hill, Montgomery Co., 
N. Y. She died at the residence of one of her daughters, 
at Amsterdam, on October 6, i860, aged ninety years. 
From an obituary printed in the New York Tribune 
these additional facts are gleaned : 

When but a youth, not out of her 'teens, she publicly 
dedicated herself to God, and from that time to the close 
of her earthly career her well-trimmed lamp beamed 
with undiminished brightness — yea, her path was a shining 
light which shineth more and more till the perfect day. 
She was a woman of unassuming and modest mien, but 
great was the force of her religious character, and decided 
and positive her influence. In the domestic circle, the 
immediate sphere for a woman's pure and best exertions, 
she was happily successful. First, she led her husband to 
the Saviour, who soon became one of the pillars in the 
church of Christ; then they mutually dedicated their 
children to God, two of whom she had the pleasure of 
seeing in succession occupying their father's place in elder- 
ship in the same church. Never was one more regular 
and faithful in attendance upon the ordinances of grace. 
To reverence the sanctuary was a command she loved to 
obey. That God's way is there she knew in sweet experi- 
ence. In her another fact was most strikingly illustrated, 
that those who love the church love the ministers whom 
the Master has commissioned to perform her solemn rites. 
To cheer and encourage them she took particular pains- 
In her house they felt ever at home; and when affliction 
visited them in their abodes, like an angel of mercy on 
swift wing she was there, nor did she forget to bear with 
her whatever she thought might regale, refresh, and in- 
vigorate. In late years, age had diminished both her 
physical and mental vigor, but so early rooted, so firmly 



300 Zbc 1Rew 13ork of ^cBtext>n^ 

seated, so unswervingly constant had been her religious 
habits, and so sufficient was the grace of Him who said, 
"I will never leave nor forsake you," that her devotional 
spirit never flagged nor wavered. Daily she continued to 
read the Scriptures, and, whatever might betide or who- 
soever the visitors in the household, her accustomed 
devotions were never omitted. Truly luminous her Chris- 
tian life and worthy imitation her consistent example! 
Not long since, the family and the church were called to 
mourn the departure of Ann Striker, her step-daughter, 
her early companion in the Christian life — a woman of 
kindred spirit, doctrinal views, and practical piety, and 
liberal in the Saviour's cause. Blessed reunion in fellow- 
ship of the twain, now like stars to shine in realms of glory 
without end. 

The two sons above mentioned were Richard Albert- 
son and John Horn Striker. The former joined the 
communion February 5, 181 9, when twenty- two years 
of age and became Deacon August 11, 1822. He 
served as Secretary on his election in April 1830, and 
was chosen Elder December ist of that year, which 
office he held for five years. His brother John became 
a member February i, 1827. He was raised to the 
diaconate at the same session with his brother and 
was elected Elder April 25, 1837. In June, 1838, it is 
recorded that he had "moved away" from Blooming- 
dale. He accompanied many of his family to Tribes 
Hill about this time, but did not apply for letters of 
dismission until 1843. Their sisters Maria and Helen 
both joined August ist, 1823. Maria was married, by 
Dr. Gunn, to Joseph Cornell, September 6, 181 5, and 
these children were baptized by him: 

James Thomas, b. Aug. 10, bap. Sept. 23, 1821. 

Albert Russell, b. Aug. 2, bap. Dec. 9, 1828. 

James Thomas II, b. Feb. 19, bap. Sept. 5, 1831, 



among ©IMlme jfamlliee 301 

The two former died young and their remains were 
deposited in the Sriker vault. The third, their only- 
surviving child, met with a melancholy accident at 
the Reid mine, fourteen miles southwest of Concord, 
N. C, on August 25, 1858. In the act of picking up 
his gun for the purpose of shooting partridges, the 
trigger caught in such a manner that the gun was dis- 
charged into his left eye, blowing away a large piece 
of the skull and killing him instantly. It is a curious 
circumstance that his remains were the first to be in- 
terred in the Green Hill Cemetery at Amsterdam, N. Y., 
the ground for which had been purchased from his 
father a few months before and which had been dedi- 
cated on September ist. From a tribute in the Chris- 
tian Intelligencer this extract is taken: 

He was a Christian. Favored with an abundance of 
means, connected with fashionable society, he had in earlier 
days led a life of splendid gaiety. But during the last 
winter he was induced to attend the daily prayer-meeting 
in Fulton Street. ... In the month of June he became 
a member of the Twenty-first Street Reformed Dutch 
Church {vide N. Y. G. & B. Record for April, 1906, for an 
account of its founding) , and stated as a reason for joining 
at that time that he was to reside for a season in a part of 
the country destitute of religious privileges. 

Dr. Gunn likewise joined in matrimony Helen 
Striker to John S. Watkins, July 6, 18 19, and bap- 
tized two of their children, viz. Mary Striker and Har- 
riet. The youngest child of Elder and Mary Striker, 
Jemima, was baptized by the minister May 28, 1809. 
The Caesar Striker who was present as witness at the 
marriage of a colored couple in 1823 was a slave in the 
family, as had been the lately manumitted contracting 
parties. 



302 zbe t\c\0 IJork of ipe0tert)a^ 

The Hegeman family originated with Adriaen and 
his wife Katherij Margits, who arrived at New Am- 
sterdam in 1650. He removed to Midwout (Flatbush, 
L. I.), where he died, April, 1672, and his widow 1689 
or 1690. He was a magistrate there from 1654 to 
1660 and in 1663: schout-fiscaal in 1661 of the Five 
Dutch Towns. In 1655, he and Thomas Swartwout 
petitioned the Director-General to have the limits 
of Midwout defined, and Commissary Stryker and he 
were authorized to make the demarkation requested. 
From 1659 to 1671, he was schoolmaster of his town, 
and obtained a patent, in 1661, for one hundred acres 
of land there and settled upon it. In February, 1664, 
he procured the making of depositions in relation to 
the misconduct of an English troop, and in the same 
month headed a delegation to a convention at Flat- 
bush, which was called for the purpose of selecting del- 
egates to lay before the States-General the distressed 
condition of the country. Peter Hegeman, one of his 
descendants, m., May 2, 1781, Lettice, daughter of 
Nicholas and Margaret (Cozine) Fletcher. She was 
the daughter of Cornelus Cozine who bought the 
farm in Bloomingdale. The Hegeman homestead 
stood just north of the Cozine house in the bed of 
present Eighth Avenue, in the centre of 55th Street. 
Peter Hegeman's widow died August 26, 185 1. She 
and her daughter Cynthia joined the church March 
29, 1807. Children were : 

Peter Adrian, m. Laura N. 

Cynthia, m. Aaron B. Jackson. Their children were 
all baptized in the church, viz. : 

Mary Jane, joined the communion Oct. 30, 1828. 
Letitia 



Emono (S)I^4lme Jfamilies 303 

Peter Adrian Hegeman 
Cynthia 
Margaret. 
The mother died on Thursday, October ii, i860, 
aged 77, her husband having preceded her. These 
lines are copied from the notice in the Christian 
Intelligencer of October i8th: 
"Pray for us mother — ^if a spirit's lips 
May breathe a prayer in heaven — that we, from whom 
Thou'st parted for a season, may so tread 
This vale of sorrow, that when life has passed 
We may go up to thee and claim thy hand 
To lead us where the living waters flow," 
Margaret, m. Matthew Horn. 
Frances Bassett, d. unmarried. 

Letitia, m. John Wood Palmer, May 25, 181 1, in the 
church, where these children also were baptized: 
John Edmond and John Wood. 
Jane Frances, m. John E. Ross, Aug. 9, 1810, also 
there, and these children were baptized: 
Letitia Jane. 
John Edward 
Peter Adrian 
William Stymets 
Sarah Frances 
Emeline 

Peter Adrian Hegeman 
Martha, m. John Hegeman, April 11, 18 15, at the 
church. Their child John Adrian was baptized 
there. The father m. (2) there Rosena Moore, 
widow Fairbanks, May 12, 1841. 

Early in its history, many of the colored people held 
by landed proprietors in the neighborhood became 
members, the first to be recorded being William Ray 
and Mary Dey his wife, who joined, April 8, 1808, upon 
confession, and Isaac Dey and Elizabeth Cisco his wife 



304 Zbc IRew l?orli of !Pe6tert)ai? 

the same day upon certificate. As they took their 
owners' surnames, as a rule, many well-known cogno- 
mens occur among them. Isaac was the first sexton. 
It is related that to an inquirer, who asked him how 
business was, this old darkey replied, " Mighty pore, 
Massa, mighty pore, but old Mistus Cozine am berry 
low." This was Jane, who married Ackerman, and 
died in 1 83 7 . He never had an opportunity to augment 
his fortune in this instance, for he was discharged in 
1832 for some infraction. Quite a large contingent 
of Ritters appear. Many were slaves in the Harsen 
family and its connections. Cambridge Ritter be- 
longed to the Hoppers. By the will of John Hopper 
the Younger, dated Sept. 13, 181 5, it was directed 
that he be sold for ten years. He could choose his 
master, and on the expiration of the term was to be 
free. He chose the Cozine family, with which he 
was associated through Hopper's second wife, and 
remained with them thereafter, being especially 
attached to Miss Rachel. He was married by the fam- 
ily's consent to Eliza Day, by Dr. Gunn, May 7, 1828, 
and joined the church. May i, 1840, which he served 
as sexton for some years. Hopper freed two other 
slaves, Sam and William, butMirected that the former 
should be kept and maintained if he so elected. Icha- 
bod Prall's slaves were married by Dr. Gunn in July, 
181 5, and Mr. Cheeseborough's wench Jane in Octo- 
ber, 18 1 6. Robert, belonging to the Dyckmans, was 
united to a free colored woman the following year, 
and the children of many of these couples were bap- 
tized by the early ministers. 

The act for the gradual abolition of slavery in the 
State was passed March 29, 1779 {Laws 2 2d Session 
p. 721), which provided that any child born of a slave 




Portrait and signature of Miss Ann Striker, from the original painting in possession 
of Mrs. J. H. Maples 



among ©IMlmc jfamlllee 305 

after July 4th of that year should be deemed to be 
bom free, but that such child if a male should con- 
tinue a servant to the age of 28, and if a female until 
25 years of age. It was, however, made lawful for the 
owner of any slave to manumit such slave by a certifi- 
cate for that purpose under hand and seal. On March 
31, 18 1 7 {Statutes, p. 136), marriages between slaves 
were declared valid. The children thereof must be 
taught to read the Holy Scriptures and must be given, 
between the ages of ten and eighteen, four quarters' 
schooling. It was prohibited to import slaves into 
the State, and to prevent it, any so brought were 
ipso facto free. The final provision of this act declared 
that every negro, mulatto or mustee born before July 
4th, 1779, should from and after July 4th, 1827, be 
free. 

Ann Striker, the Elder's daughter by his first 
marriage, became a member March 30, 1809. Always 
of a religious nature, she had joined with her step- 
mother, who came into the family when she was nine 
years of age, in a serious effort to make the world 
better because she had lived. They made a practice 
of visiting poor families throughout Bloomingdale, 
armed with a panoply of charity which ministered to 
their well-being and comfort. Their custom was to dis- 
tribute tracts at the same time, that an appeal to 
their better nature might be joined with a full stomach. 
Miss Striker was especially interested in ameliorating 
the condition of the Jews both here and abroad and 
the children of the New York Orphan Asylum were 
her constant care. Born at Striker's Bay, she re- 
mained at home until her father's death in 1831, when^ 
at the age of fifty, she went to live with her sister at 
Mott's Point. She became an inmate of her brother 



3o6 Zbc "Wevo l?orJ; of IPeeterba^ 

Gen. Striker's house later and finally removed to the 
residence of her half-sister Jemima, the wife of Edward 
Jenner Swords, at Port Chester. She never married. 
Feeling that the family burial ground, set apart to 
her in the partition of the Hopper farm in 1823, 
should be dedicated to the Hoppers, she inaugurated 
a movement, through Judge Samuel C. Foote, to locate 
a church on the site. This, however, proved imprac- 
ticable, it being found impossible to extinguish the 
Matthew Hopper interest therein and to overcome the 
reservation, in the will, of the plot for burial purposes 
exclusively. She endeavored to carry out her purpose 
of having a Dutch Church built on the farm, by be- 
queathing lots on the northwest corner of Ninth 
Avenue and 50th Street, directly opposite the cemetery, 
for a site. This provision was, however, rendered of 
no effect by the opinion in Striker vs. Mott, which held 
that the testatrix had but a life-estate in the property. 
She died at "Deermont," the Swords country-seat, 
at Port Chester, on April 12, i860, aged eighty years. 
The funeral took place at the Middle Reformed Dutch 
Church, corner Lafayette Place and 4th Street, on 
the I 6th. 

The sisters Jane and Rachel Cozine both joined 
Nov. 30, 1809. The progenitor in this country was 
Gerrit Cosijnszen, i. e. Gerrit the son of Cosijn. His 
marriage notice calls him of New Netherland, where 
he was baptized Sept. 24, 1673, in the Dutch Church, 
and joined in matrimony October 25 th of that year 
to Balitje Jacobs, a young woman from Fort Orange 
(Albany), both living at Stuyvesant's bouwery. The 
tradition is that he was of French origin and came here 
via Holland. Their son Comelis settled in Blooming- 
dale and died Jan. 4, 1765, leaving a widow who was 



among ®lt)*«time ifamiUes 307 

Deborah Sperry. Balaam Johnson Cozine, of the 
third generation, married Catherina, daughter of 
Nicholas Dyckman, April 26, 1760. He was buried 
in the underground vault in St. Paul's churchyard, 
which the Cozines attended prior to the founding of 
the Church at Harsenville. His widow, however, 
was interred in the Hopper plot, her daughter Sarah 
having become allied to that family through marriage 
with John Hopper the Younger. Jane and Rachel 
were sisters of Sarah. Jane married, Oct. 25, 1795, 
Isaac Ackerman, and had a daughter Rachel, who 
married Cornelius Westerfield the quondam Deacon 
and Elder, and died May 29, 1837. Rachel died un- 
married Nov. I, 1854, and neither was yet born in 1774, 
when Cornelis drew his will in which the seven child- 
ren of his brother were remembered by name. John 
Cozine, their brother with whom they lived, married 
Sarah, daughter of James and Catharine (Parliament) 
Kent, born in Hackensack. They came to live with 
the groom's father, who built a house for them — a 
frame building painted yellow — ^at Eighth Avenue, 
near 54th Street. She became a member Nov. 4, 1842, 
and died April 22, 1862. 

Their children were: 

Catharine, b. Dec. 12, 181 1, m., Dec. 6, 1832, Samuel 
Fleet. No issue. He was for years the editor of the New 
York Farmer and an agriculturist of note. He built two 
Gothic houses in the block between Eighth Avenue and the 
Bloomingdale Road, 54th and 55th Streets, in one of which 
he lived. The Rev. Dr. Patton, afterwards of Princeton, 
occupied the other at one time. A class for young ladies 
was opened in October, 1859, by Miss S. Eva Hughes, under 
Mr. Fleet's supervision, for which purpose both houses were 
used. Mrs. Fleet was received into communion May 2, 1863. 

Nicholas Dyckman, d. at the age of seven. 



3o8 ^be 1Rew l?ork of IJesterbai? 

Sarah Stakes, b. Oct. 15, 1816, bap. by Dr. Gunn, m. 
Dec. I, 183s, by him to Peter Adrian Horn (d. Dec. 4, 
1849), and had Sarah Jane, bap. by the minister, who m. 
(i) Albert Sutton of Peekskill and (2) Dr. George R. Wells. 
Sarah (Stakes) Horn d. Dec. 16, 1836, and was buried from 
the Cozine homestead on Sunday the i8th. 

Jane Ackerman, b. Nov. 7, 1818, m. at the church, April 
I, 1845, James Hegeman Dorland of Fishkill Plain, Dut- 
chess Co., N. Y. Issue: Cozine, b. Jan. 9, and bap. Mar. 11, 
1846, and Jane Cozine, b. May 7, and bap. June 20, 1847, 
m. Benjamin Franklin, M.D. She joined Feb. 6, 1875, and 
d. April 2, 1880. Mrs. Dorland is the oldest living member. 
She united in 1838, and lives at Cedarville, N. Y., where she 
is a "shut-in," not having left her house since i860. She 
loves her church and means to remain loyal to the end. 

Catherine Cozine, another sister of John, became a 
member August i, 181 7, and d. unm. April 4, 1835. The 
Cozine name is extinct in this branch. 

Cornelius Harsen, the surviving son of the Deacon, 
although he never joined the Church, had four children 
baptized therein. He had m., Nov. 13, 1805, Joanna 
Henrietta, dau. of John Peter Ritter, and had 

Joanna Ritter, b. Oct. 12, 1806, m. July 13, 1825, by 

Dr. Gunn, Abraham Augustus Prall, d. Dec. 8, 

1838. 
Jacob (M.D.), b. Feb. 16, 1808, d. Dec. 31, 1862, unm. 
Catharine, bap. by Dr. Gunn, m. Sept 24, 1840, Elijah 

Purdy, d. Nov. 5, 1896. 
Magdalen Ritter, bap. by Dr. Gunn, d. May 6, 1819. 
John Peter Ritter, bap. by Dr. Gunn, d. June 10, 

1842, unm. 
Cornelia Rachel, bap. by Dr. Gunn, m. Dec. 16, 1835, 

Lyman Rhoades, d. Mar. 17, 1900. 
Magdalen Ritter II, b. Aug. 13, 18 19, m. April 21, 

1841, William M. Halsted, Jr., d. Nov. 8, 1851. 



Maria Elizabeth, b. April 3, 1822, m. Mar. 21, 1848, 
Jacob Halsted, d. Nov. 18, 1876. 

The only one of these couples whose children were 
baptized by the minister were the Pralls, viz. : Magdalen 
Ritter and Hannah Maria. 

At the age of twenty Cornelius Harsen became (1804) 
Ensign in the 5th Regt. of Infantry. The date of his 
commission as Captain is not of record. Capt. Harsen 
was one of a committee of officers appointed to organize 
a third regiment in the city of New York, under Chap. 61 
of the Laws of the 30th Session, passed March 27, 1807. 
He was soon transferred to the artillery in which he 
became Major of the regiment he assisted in forming. 
Thereafter his talents, wealth, and social position se- 
cured his rapid promotion. At the breaking out of the 
War of 181 2 he was commissioned Lieut.-Colonel of the 
nth Regt., ist Brigade of Artillery, and later in the same 
year became commander thereof. His services in 
the war have been heretofore set forth. He lived on the 
Harsenville Road in a house which stood just south of 
present 71st Street, midway of the block between 
Ninth and Tenth Avenues, and had a city residence 
in Greenwich Street, near Charlton. In early life he 
was a hardware merchant in Cherry Street, but in 18 14 
retired from business. In 181 7, he was in the dry-goods 
line, and after 1825 the directories simply mention his 
house address. He was an incorporator of the Erie 
Railroad in 1832. His sons left no descendants and 
the name in this branch is extinct. 

Catharine Remsen, the wife of Samuel Adams 
Lawrence, joined August i, 181 2. They had come to 
Bloomingdale seven years previously and had been at- 
tendants since the Church's foundation. Mr. Lawrence 
became a member February 4, 1814 ; both on confession. 



3IO Zhc •Rew IJorft of ipeater^ai? 

On August nth instant, he was elected Deacon. 
Following the custom, the Consistory met at his house 
for the first time, at the April meeting of 1815. The 
Hardenbrook controversy caused it to assemble at 
Mr. Lawrence's office, June 24th of that year. Al- 
though business required him to decline to serve after 
a term of two years, yet he and his wife continued 
their membership until their removal to the city 
permanently, the Bloomingdale seat being a summer 
residence only. Letters of dismission were granted 
July 6, 1830. He was the third son of David Lawrence 
who was the seventh son of John, who was the second 
son of Joseph, the son of the first William and Elizabeth 
Smith, afterwards Lady Carteret, an intimate friend 
of Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Adams, for whom the 
subject of this sketch was named, and a patriot in the 
Revolution. Having amassed a fortune in commerce 
David Lawrence removed from Providence, R. I., to 
Hudson, N.Y., of which town he was one of the thirty 
proprietors. Here he was Judge, Recorder, and Mayor 
and in his leisure hours contributed to the literature 
of the period. He married Sybil Sterry and had four 
sons and five daughters. Samuel Adams Lawrence 
was born January 19, 1775. Commencing in early 
life the study of medicine, he soon relinquished it for 
commerce, a more congenial pursuit, and for which, by 
his remarkably clear vision, financial abilities, and 
systematic habits, he was eminently qualified. He 
became an extensive importing and commission mer- 
chant, widely known and highly respected at home 
and abroad. He was a partner in the firm of Augustine 
H. Lawrence & Co., at 120 Washington Street, and 
resided at 96 Greenwich Street. Ever ready with his 
means and efforts to ameliorate the condition of the 




w 




n 






Umom ©Ib^tlme ifamlllee s" 

poor, he was also a strong advocate of the cause of 
education as well as a munificent patron of the arts 
and sciences, and initiated many plans in concert 
with and while entertaining at Bloomingdale and 
elsewhere his friend and adviser De Witt Clinton, by 
whom he was referred to as "my Benjamin." He 
served as Ensign of the 2d Regt. in 1798, was ap- 
pointed Lieut, of the 13th Company, 6th Regt., on 
March 8, 1800, and Captain in the same command on 
February 16, 1802. He became a director and presi- 
dent of many corporations and institutions, but his 
crowning merit is that through life and in his last 
hour he was a conscientious and sincere Christian. 
He died August 5, 185 1, at his city residence. 

By his wife Catharine, daughter of John and Doro- 
thea Remsen, whom he married Nov. 26, 1803, Mr. 
Lawrence had eleven children. The names of the 
six baptized by Dr. Gunn were 

Julia, m. July 27, 1835, Garret Decker, son of Louis 

Hasbrouck, M.D., of Ulster Co. 
Henry, was educated for the ministry. He never 

married. 
Horace, d. at Key West, Fla., Sept. 29, 1851. He m. 

Feb. 12, 1839, Laura, dau. of Michael Kelley, of 

Charleston, S. C. 
Charles David, d. at Palestine, Anderson Co., Texas, 

July 29, 1852, unm. 
Maria Varick, b. Aug. 10, 1819, d. unm. 
Eugene. 

Samuel Sterry, a son, born Aug. 21, 1804, was a medical 
practitioner of great popularity and generosity. From 
his father he inherited a fortune which enabled him to 
gratify his scientific and literary tastes as well as to 
contribute largely to the charities of the time. He married 



312 z\)c 1Rew l?ork of ©eaterbap 

Dec. 31, 1833, Christina (died June 18, 1854), only daughter 
of Peter Knell, and had Samuel Remsen, born Dec. 31 , 1834, 
and Edgar Varick, born Nov. 17, 1836. Ferdinand, another 
son, born at Bloomingdale Dec. 28, 1807, was a wealthy- 
merchant and married Jan. 13, 1835, Isabella Eliza, eldest 
daughter of William Burgoyne of this city, formerly of 
Charleston, S. C. Eugene, a son of the Church, was educated 
at Princeton and at New York University. He studied 
law at Harvard and was a member of the New York bar. 
This profession he soon relinquished and took up literature 
as a calling, for which task he prosecuted special studies 
at London and Paris. His literary work was extensive, 
varied, and of high character. Besides contributing to 
encyclopedias and other works of reference, he published 
many monographs and magazine articles of interest and 
value. His best known work is The Lives of the British 
Historians, supplemented by historical studies, literary 
primers, and a history of Rome. He never married. The 
other children were Catherine Remsen, born Aug, 11, 1805, 
died unmarried; John Remsen, born Aug. 24, 1807, died 
Sept., 1807, and John Remsen II, born Nov. 9, 1811, died 
Mar. 31, 1834, at the U. S. Navy Yard, Brooklyn, unmarried. 

Matthew Horn and Margaret Hegeman became 
members August i, 18 14. He was the son of John 
and Jemima (Hopper) Horn, whose farm covered the 
present site of the Fifth Avenue Hotel and its environs 
and whose ancestor John Hoorn of Kingstown married 
Rachel Webbers of the "Grotekel" (Great Kill), 
April II, 1 7 13, in the New Amsterdam Dutch church. 
She was a kinswoman of Deacon Webbers. The 
Horns first appear in the records of the colony in 1656. 
Matthew was born Feb. 11, baptized Mar. 11, 1787, 
and died in 1833. His house was located on lot No. 6, 
of the Horn tract as subdivided. His widow died Feb. 
22, 1870. These children were baptized by Dr. Gunn : 



Hmona ©IMlme families 313 

John, d. April 21, 1839, unm. and intestate. 

Peter Adrian Hegeman. 

Jemima. 

Letire Frances, m. William Young of St. Louis. 

Matthew, d. Mar. 13, 1859, m. Jan. 5, 1843, Elizabeth, 

dau. of Chevalier White and Elizabeth (Chandler) 

Williams. 

Margaret Horn, the sister of Matthew, Sr., was born 
Feb. 15, and baptized Mar. 21, 1784. She married 
June 30, 1808, Christopher Mildeberger, born 1785, 
the son of Oliver and Mary (Marcellus) Mildeberger. 
Oliver was the son of a Captain in the Royal Guards 
of the King of Bavaria, who came to America on a 
visit in 1 735 and married and settled in New York. His 
other child was Elizabeth, who married Robert Banta, 
an English officer stationed at Quebec, and afterward a 
General. Oliver was a large leather merchant in the 
Swamp with stores and offices at 19 Vandewater Street. 
His son Christopher was known as the gentleman of 
the Woolsack because of his courtly manners. He 
retired with a fortune for those days, after the death 
of his father in 180 1. He died in 1856 and his wife in 
1859 and both were buried in the yard of St. Mark's 
Church in the Bowery. Their first child, John Horn, 
was baptized by Dr. Gunn in 1809. Other children 
were: Margaret A., married (i) Robert Stuyvesant 
and (2) Walton H. Peckham; she lies at Greenwood. 
Emeline, born Jan. i, 1814, married May 29, 1832, 
John Alfred Bell, born July 8, 1810, at St. Mark's; 
she died Feb. 19, 1872 and was buried at Mt. Kensico, 
and he died Mar. 18, 1901. Charlotte A., married 
Marshall Pepoon, died Nov. 25, 1880, no issue, buried at 
Greenwood. Oliver H., married Vashti Miller. 

Henry Post, who served the church long and faith- 



314 Zbc View IPorft of jpe6tert)ai? 

fully as Deacon, "gentleman" as the conveyance 
reads, received a deed from the Corporation, of a 
certain plot in the Seventh Ward, part of the Common 
Lands, May i, 1801, described in the Survey or map 
of said lands filed in the office of the Clerk of the County 
by the number 134, bounded west by a certain road laid 
out on said map called the Middle Road, on the east 
by another road called on said map the East Road, on 
the north by a street 60 feet wide between the lot 
hereby granted and released and lot No. 136, and on 
the south by another street of like breadth of 60 feet 
between the said lot hereby granted, and lot No. 131, 
containing in breadth at each end 3 chains and 3 links 
and in length on each side 13 chains and 94 links, at 
the rent of four bushels of wheat or the value thereof 
in gold or silver on the first day of May in each year 
forever thereafter. 

The grant is not recorded, but a counterpart thereof 
is to be found in the Comptroller's Office in Book of 
Grants of the Common Lands at p. 12. The quit- 
rent reserved was commuted June 20, 1835, by William 
Wagstaff. Post built a residence on this property 
where he resided during his diaconate, and it was this 
house he opened to the military during the War of 18 12, 
as heretofore narrated. He was born in Pompton, 
N. J., and served as a drummer in the Revolution. He 
married Elizabeth, the fifth of the eight children of 
James Board and Jane, daughter of Capt. Philip Schuyler 
(son of Arent Schuyler) and Hester Kingsland (daugh- 
ter of Isaac Kingsland of New Barbadoes Neck, Bergen 
Co., N.J.), license dated June 20, 1780. Jane Schuyler 
was bom Oct. 6, 1728. James Board came from 
England in 1730 with his father Cornelius and settled 
at Ringwood, Passaic Co., N. J. Cornelius and his 



Hmonfi ©IMime jfamillee 315 

brothers David and Joseph who accompanied him 
managed the iron- works at that place. James was 
commissioned to sell confiscated property in Bergen 
County, and died in 1803. His wife died Mar. 31, 181 6. 
Post was elected Deacon a few days after he and 
his wife had presented themselves as applicants for 
admission to the communion. They were received 
August I, 1814, at the same session as Matthew 
Horn and wife. He and Lawrence became Deacons 
the same day, Aug. nth, and the former was chosen 
Treasurer of the Board in October. These positions 
he resigned on Aug. 19, 1822, with the thanks of the 
Consistory, and Richard A. Striker succeeded. In 
April, 1823, Mr. Post was appointed Church Master. 
He had been an officer of militia in New York City, 
having been commissioned Ensign May 11, 1789, 
promoted Lieut., in Lieut.-Col. James Alner's Regiment, 
March 12, 1790, in which command many of his Bloom- 
ingdale neighbors served, among them Lemuel Wells, 
Jacob Harsen, and James Striker, Captain in the 4th 
Regt., Dec. 7, 1795, and 2d Major, Feb. 16, 1802. In 
Mrs. Johannah Beekman's will he is called Judge 
Post. On August 3, 1812, precautions were taken by 
the Common Council against riot and one hundred 
citizens in each of the wards volunteered and were 
organized, under the city authorities, to aid the 
Magistrates and Committee of Defence in keeping the 
peace. John S. Dusenberry of Bloomingdale was a 
peace officer connected with the Police Department. 
Special justices were appointed, whose duty was to 
attend at the City Hall throughout each night to quell 
riots. Post represented the Ninth Ward. These 
officials were appointed by the State Council of Ap- 
pointment at Albany and were familiarly known as 



3i6 Zbc "flew 13ork of IJeeterbai? 

Assistant Justices. Their powers were such as justices 
of the peace possessed. 

His will, dated Sept. 6, 1833 (L. 71, Wills, 12), 
named Jonathan Ferris, Isaac Adriance, and Andrew 
McGown, executors. To them was devised testator's 
house and two five-acre lots, situated on the east 
side of Fifth Avenue, "and which are now in my 
occupation," upon trust to sell at public auction within 
a period of five years after his decease and from the 
proceeds to pay $400.00 to his daughter Sarah Ann 
and half the balance to his granddaughter Eliza 
McGown. The residue to be invested and the income 
paid to his grandson Henry P. Ferris. On March 13, 
1834, Isaac Adriance, Counseller-at-law, and Jonathan 
Ferris conveyed these premises and lot No. 139 of the 
Common Lands to Andrew McGown; consideration 
$10,000.00 (L.311, Conv. 592); and on April ist of the 
same year, the latter and his wife Eliza Ann S. sold 
them for the same amount of money to William 
Wagstaff (L. 314, Conv. 245). This land later vested 
in Robert Lenox. He left a will, dated May 23, 1829, 
with codicils dated June 23, 1832, and Dec. 4, 1839, 
which was proved Jan. 15, 1840. This property 
became so famous in local history that it is interesting 
to add that he died Dec. 13, 1839, leaving a widow, 
Rachel, and these children, viz. : James Lenox, the 
later well-known philanthropist, Eliza L. Maitland, 
Isabella H. Banks, Rachel C. Kennedy, Jenet Lenox, 
Mary L. Sheafe, Henrietta A. Lenox, and Aletha L. 
Donaldson. Rachel Lenox died Feb. 9, 1843. 

Deacon Post had but one child, Sarah Ann, who 
married Benjamin Ferris and their daughter Eliza 
A. L. Ferris married Andrew McGown who acted as a 
guide to mislead the British while Washington's army 







Portrait and signature of Joel Post, Esq. 



among ©IMime famillee 317 

made good their escape without loss to Fort Washing- 
ton in the War for Independence. He resided in New 
York City and had Henry Post, married Mary A. 
Dailey, lawyer and City Judge, 1892. Issue: Marianna 
and Rev. William Knight McGown; and Elizabeth 
Ann Post, married James H. Wright. 

Another Post line, originally of German ancestry, 
came from Holland, where they were known as van 
den Poest, with a party of Pilgrims to Massachusetts. 
Jotham Post, fourth in descent from Lieut. Richard 
Post, who went to Southampton, L. I., about 1640, 
was bom 1 740 at Westbury, L. I., and came to New York 
City. He married Winifred Wright and had four sons : 
Wright E. (died at Newport, Sept i, 1907), Jotham, 
Joel, and Alison. The eldest son was a celebrated 
physician whose portrait appears in the famous group 
representing the Court of Washington. The third 
son, Joel, who owned a pew in the church, purchased 
Claremont in 182 1, where he resided throughout his 
life. Later he acquired the adjoining property, " Monte 
Alta." The mansion and site of Gen. Grant's Tomb 
were acquired (1873) by the city from his descendants 
when Riverside Park was created. He was married 
(i) to Elizabeth Brown by the Rev. Uzal Ogden, 
Rector of Trinity P. E. Church, Newark, May 21, 1796 
(N.J. Archives, ist Series, Vol. XXII, Marriages), and 
(2) to Alma Floyd. Their son John Alexander was 
baptized in 1824 by Dr. Gunn. He was in the whole- 
sale drug business. Nancy, the daughter of Jotham, Sr., 
married May 11, 1797, Peter Hawes, who, as a member 
of the Committee of Defence in the second war with 
England, had much to do in providing funds and 
volunteers for the building of the works on Blooming- 
dale Heights. Bom June 6, 1768, he entered in 1787 



3i8 Z\)c 1Wcw l?ork of l?e6ter^al5 

Rhode Island College, now known as Brown University. 
At that time it was necessary upon matriculation to 
give a bond to the Steward of the College. This 
curious document, as well as the Diploma from his 
Alma Mater, are in possession of his grandson, Gilbert 
Ray Hawes, a present Elder of the Church. Mr. 
Hawes determined to enter the profession of law and 
left the old Massachusetts home for New York City. 
The; Directory for 1795 prints his name as follows: 
" Peter Hawes, Student of Laws. 91 Beekman Street." 
In the same year he was admitted to the bar. The 
license signed by Richard Varick, Mayor of the city, 
on Sept. 16, 1795, is a quaint old indenture and was 
exhibited at the World's Fair in Chicago upon the 
walls of the New York State Building. He rapidly 
rose to prominence and soon acquired a large clientage. 
He organized the Washington Insurance Co., one of 
the first in the United States, and remained its Secre- 
tary to the date of his death in 1829. For many years 
he served as Elder in the Brick Church (Dr. Spring's) 
which stood on the corner of Nassau and Beekman 
Streets, was a member of the New England Society and 
its Secretary from 1807 to 1809. A member also of 
the Common Council (1809 to 181 2), he held that office 
at a time when the name " City Father" was not inaptly 
bestowed. Mr. Hawes resided on the southeast corner 
of John and William Streets, and his gardens extended 
to the East River, The old house is yet standing 
metamorphosed to business purposes, on historic 
ground made memorable by the battle of Golden Hill. 
With other young fellows of the Knickerbocker period, 
Mr. Hawes founded the Cappiopean Society, which 
flourished from October i, 1793, to February 3, 1799. 
The minutes of their meetings, at which poems and 



amona ©Ib^'tlme jfamllies 319 

essays were read and then turned over to a committee 
for criticism, are in existence. 

At this early period, Cherry Street was the Court 
end of the town and filled with elegant and fashionable 
residences. Conspicuous among these was the house 
built by Jotham Post, a respected and wealthy citizen. 
This quotation will bear repetition while we are on a 
subject so nearly related to Bloomingdale : 

His daughter Nancy was acknowledged to be the hand- 
somest girl on Manhattan Island and the belle of New York. 
Many were the suitors that thronged the father's house 
and sought to carry off the prize. But, sad to say, she was 
inclined to be coquettish, as maidens sometimes are, even 
to this day. Scores of broken hearts were laid at her feet, 
but still she did not relent. Serenades were sung before 
her windows and sonnets composed to her beauty and 
charms but without avail. At last, Mr. Hawes, who was 
a man persistent and quite set in his ways, like his Puritan 
ancestors, determined that he must win her. He wrote 
a number of verses which did not have the desired effect 
of securing his lady's affections. She only laughed him to 
scorn. Finally he prepared a chef d'wuvre entitled "The 
Belles of Cherry Street," wherein she is apostrophized under 
the pseudonym of "Eliza," the name by which she was 
known in all these effusions. All the other belles of Cherry 
Street are mentioned in turn, only to be rejected. The 
final verse sets forth the pre-eminent attractions of " Eliza." 
There are many personal allusions which cannot be appre- 
ciated at this distant day. But the poem is sprightly and 
clever and in its present state of preservation we can hardly 
realize that it was written in the XVIII century. Whether 
it was this poem which caused her to smile upon him with 
favor, deponent sayeth not. But certain it is that, after 
a long and arduous courtship, Peter Hawes was able to 
lead Nancy Post, a fair and blushing bride, to the altar and 
the twain were made one. 



320 ziK IRew 13orft of IJeetct^a^ 

She died July 4, 1806, and on June 16, 1808, Peter 
Hawes married (2) Margarette Ray. 

Col. Anthony Post, who married Petronella or 
Petemelletje Brouwer, Feb. 4, 1768, came of the Post 
family of Yonkers as detailed in Bolton's History of 
Westchester Co. He was the son of Jacob Post, who 
held lands in Phillipsburgh under the Phillipses and 
married Anne Heddy. Anthony obtained his title 
in the militia, having been commissioned Captain, 
Oct. 4, 1786, Major, Feb. 28, 1789, and Lieut.-Col., 
Commandant of the 2d Regt., in 1793. His resigna- 
tion was accepted by the Council of Appointment in 
1796. He was one of the earliest attendants on the 
services and built a vault in the churchyard. He was 
chairman of the General Society of Mechanics and 
Tradesmen and a Sachem of Tammany Hall. He 
lived in a house located on the Commissioner's Map 
on property which — ^part of the Medcef Eden farm — 
he purchased of Astor, fronting north on Verdant 
Lane. Their children were : Anthony, married Eliza- 
beth Polhemus; Nelly, married Odell Valentine; 
Betsy, married James R. Manley, M.D.; and Ann, 
married Joseph Bayley, M.D. There were four other 
daughters who d.s.p. Post's will was proved June 
21, 1832 (L. 69 Wills, no), devising the above estate. 
He had married a second time, for his widow Magdalena 
died in Mar., 1844. Dr. Bayley died in Dec, 1836, and 
his wife Ann, Dec. 21, 1829. She left her surviving 
seven children and three grandchildren. The son 
Anthony Post is not mentioned in his father's 
will. 

Martha Brandon and Juliana Osgood, the former of 
whom was married by Dr. Gunn to Edmond Charles 
Genet, the French Minister, and the latter to her cousin 



amona ©IMime jfamlUee 321 

Samuel W. Osgood, both on July 30, 1814, in the 
presence of Dr. David Hosack, the celebrated physician 
and botanist who was present at the Hamilton-Burr 
duel and attended professionally the lamented victim, 
were the daughters of Samuel Osgood of Massachusetts, 
who founded the New York family. Samuel, born 1 748, 
graduated at Harvard 1770 and took up the study 
of theology. His health breaking down he forsook 
the pulpit for public life. In 1774 he was elected to 
the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts. He or- 
ganized a company of minute-men and fought with 
them at Lexington and Concord. In 1775 he was made 
Major and in the fall aid-de-camp to Gen. Ward with 
the rank of Colonel. In the Congress he served for 
four years as a member of the Board of War. There- 
after he became a Senator and later a member of the 
Continental Congress, where he remained till 1784.3 The 
following year he was appointed a judge and in a few 
months First Commissioner of the United States Treas- 
ury, which post he held till 1789. Until 1791 he 
was Postmaster-General. He resigned rather than 
leave New York City at the time Congress removed 
to Philadelphia. He was elected a member of the 
State Legislature, 1 800-1 801-180 2, and during the 
first two years served as Speaker of the Assembly. 
From 1 80 1 to 1803 he was State Supervisor and from 
then to 1 813, the date of his death, he served as Naval 
Officer of the Port of New York. Besides the above 
he was an incorporator of the Public School Society, 
a trustee of the N. Y. City Dispensary, and an author 
of numerous books. His first wife was Martha Brandon 
by whom he had no issue. By his second, Maria 
Bowne Franklin, widow of Walter Franklin for whom 
Franklin Square was named, he had three daughters. 



322 Zhc Ticvo IPorl? of ©eaterbap 

the two above mentioned and Susan Maria who 
married Moses Field. 

Samuel, the son of Walter Franklin Osgood and 
Ellen Moncrief, born 1812, was baptized by the minister, 
1 8 14. He graduated from Harvard (1832) and Har- 
vard Divinity School (1835). After a brief career 
as an editor he took a pulpit in Nashua, N.H., and in 
1849 accepted the pastorate of the Church of the Messiah 
in New York City, in which place he died in 1880. 
His life may be divided into two epochs, twenty years 
in active clerical labor and eleven in literary work. 
His contributions to American literature were numerous 
and valuable. Among his chief productions were 
Studies in Christian Biography, God with Men, The 
Hearthstone, Milestones in Our Life's Journey, Student 
Life, American Leaves, and An Address before the N. Y. 
Historical Society upon Thomas Crawford on Art in 
America. He translated from the German Herman 
Olshausen's History of the Passion and De Wette's 
Human Life. For four years he was editor of The 
Christian Inquirer, while his magazine articles, college 
addresses, and critical studies were more than two 
hundred in number. 

Daniel Mack, who was elected Deacon in 1816, was 
in the fourth generation from John Mack, who came 
from Scotland circa 1680, was at Salisbury, Conn., 
in 1 68 1, and settled at Lyme, Conn., in 1697. He 
descended through Orlando in the second and Or- 
lando in the third. His father was born 1724 at 
Hebron, Conn., and married in 1744, Abigail Adams 
of that place. He was an Ensign and removed about 
1763 to New Marlborough, Mass. The son, bom Oct. 
22, 1752, married Elizabeth Torot and removed to 
New York City where they joined the Bloomingdale 



among ©IMIme jTamUles 323 

Church, Aug. 28, 1814. Their daughter CaroHne 
was baptized by Dr. Gunn three days earHer. Issue: 
Susan, m. Feb. 7, 1827, Dr. Lewis Hallock, a graduate 
of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1826. She 
d. Aug. II, 1832. After practising allopathy for 
fifteen years, he joined the American Homeopathic 
Institute in 1846, of which he was Censor many years 
and from which he received the degree of M.D. in 1876; 
Daniel, b. Nov. 8, 1787, graduated at Columbia College 
in 1807; Charlotte, m. John McChain, a New York 
provision merchant; Caroline, b. Feb. 11, 1811, m. 

Belcher; Sarah, m. May 21, 1808, George Woodruff 

of this city; Robert, who in 185 1 resided at Newtown, 
L. I.; and Lucinda, m. April 23, 1812, John Steen and 
d. leaving two sons. 

The Varicks were a noted family. Valentine's 
Manual, 1861, makes the common ancestor to be the 
Rev. Rudolphus van Varick. The Domine, whose will, 
dated Oct. 20, 1686, was proven Nov. 9, 1694, came 
from Holland circa 1685. Corwin's Manual, p. 871, 
gives Nov. 12th as the date when he offered his services 
to Classis in Amsterdam to minister to the church in 
New Netherland and the glad acceptance of the same. 
He sailed from Holland in March, 1686, and arrived 
early in July, succeeding Domine Casparus van Zuuren 
the same year as minister of the Long Island churches, 
his residence being at Flatbush; he also occasi9nally 
preached on Sundays in the churches of Bergen and 
Hackensack, N. J. During the Leislerian troubles 
he felt compelled to denounce the pseudo Governor, 
in which opposition he was supported by all the Re- 
formed ministers of the province. He found it 
necessary to flee to Newcastle, Del., and upon his 
return was charged with being privy to a design to 



324 Zbc IRew l?ork of IPeeterbai? 

rescue the fort from Leisler, and was dragged from his 
house in the fall of 1690 by an armed force, taken to 
the fort, and imprisoned for six months. Domine 
Selyns offered himself and property as bail for him but 
was refused and threatened with imprisonment him- 
self. He was finally released without the imposed fine, 
though he ultimately died in 1694 of his ill treatment. 
He was buried "in the church of Midwout," where his 
widow, who was Margarita Visboom, directed in her 
will, 1695, that her body be interred. 

Dr. Edwin R. Purple asserts that Jan Varick of New 
York, 1 68 7-1 702-3, and Hackensack, 1720, probably 
his brother, was the ancestor of the largest branch bear- 
ing the name in both these States. His wife was Sara 
Visboom. The most noted of the name was the Hon. 
Richard Varick, a Colonel in the Revolution ; Recorder 
of the city, 1783-9; Mayor 1789-1801; Attorney- 
General of the State 1788-9; Speaker of the Assembly 
1787-8; State Commissioner to appraise the property 
of the Western Inland Lock Navigation Co., 181 7, 
which property was used for the Erie Canal; President 
of the Society of the Cincinnati over thirty years; 
President of the American Bible Society at the time 
of his death, and one of the three founders of Jersey 
City, where he died July 30, 183 1. In the Church re- 
cords we find that two of the children of Jane Dey 
Varick, the wife of Henry S. Dodge, viz., John Varick 
and Henry Augustus, were baptized by Dr. Gunn in 
18 1 6. She was the only daughter of John Varick, 
M.D., and Margaret van Wyck. Her father studied 
medicine with Dr. Peter Middleton in New York City, 
1776. Her brothers were Theodore van Wyck Varick, 
b. May 15, 1790, graduated at Columbia College 1807 
with degree of A.M., and John Varick, graduated at 



among ©IMlmc jfamlUee 325 

the same institution in 1813. Her grandfather, John 
Varick, brother of the Mayor, bap. 1723, m. in 1748 
Jane Dey, dau. of Dirck Theunis Dey and Jane Blan- 
chard. The Deys descend from Dirck Jansen Dey 
who m. in New Amsterdam, Dec. 2, 1641, Jannetje 
Theunis of Amsterdam, In 1677, he leased from 
Governor Andros for thirty years the Duke's Bouwery, 
now belonging to Trinity Church, on which property he 
lived and acquired other lands later, for his will, dated 
Dec. 5, 1683, leaves to Geertie Jansen (alias Langen- 
dyck) his (2) wife, whom he m. Oct. 18, 1659, "all that 
land which at present lyeth to the south side of the 
house where the testator is dwelling. " He established 
a mill and ferry at the foot of present Dey Street, 
which was named for the family, and resided on Broad- 
way at the head of that street. Henry S. Dodge 
subscribed for a pew in the Second House of Worship. 

So far we have considered only a few of the in- 
dividuals who were identified with the infant organ- 
ization which assembled in the First House of Worship. 
In 1 814, proceedings were inaugurated towards the 
building of the stone edifice which stood on the site 
purchased that year on the Bloomingdale Road, at what 
became later known as 68th Street. Stephen Jumel, 
the French merchant and the husband of the famous 
Madame, donated a bell for the original structure and 
this gift was hung in the cupola of the Second House 
of Worship when completed. The Jumels, even after 
they had removed from Bloomingdale, attended and 
contributed to the support of the Church. He landed 
in America a poor man, and by singular foresight in 
business matters, made an immense fortune in the 
wine- trade. He became noted for his wealth, liberality, 
and kind-hearted benevolence. The property on which 



326 z\)C tio» Uorh of l?e0tert)ap 

stands the Roger Morris mansion {1626. Street) and 
which is now a city park, was purchased by him April 
28, 1 8 10. The land, containing 57 acres, had been con- 
veyed by the town officers of Harlem to Jan Kiersen 
on March 7, 1700, and came into the possession of Col. 
Morris shortly before the Revolution. Selecting a 
site which commanded what has been described as the 
"most extensive prospect on this Island" he built 
thereon the mansion which was Washington's head- 
quarters during the battle of Harlem Heights. His 
estates were confiscated and sold by the Commissioners 
of Forfeiture. When Jumel acquired it, he made 
great improvements and in advertising the "Mansion 
House" in 18 14, to let for two or three years, "as 
he intended shortly to embark for Europe, " stated 
that the grounds covered thirty-six acres with two 
stables, and concluded: 

It may well be said that there are but few places which 
excel the many advantages that this handsome spot affords ; 
fruits of every kind are in abundance; also a vineyard 
of French grapes now in perfection which will supply any 
reasonable family with wine through the year; also oysters, 
clams, and good fishing within 100 rods of the Mansion and 
as to the ornamental part that environs this edifice, there 
have been no pains and expenses omitted. 

Jumel died intestate, May 22, 1832, in his seventieth 
year, of an accidental fall, leaving his widow, whom he 
married about 180 1, and no issue, and Frangois Jumel, 
his brother, and Madelaine Lazardere, his sister, both 
residing in France, his only heirs-at-law. His wife 
was Eliza Bowen, the widow of Col. Peter Croix, a 
British officer. Soon after Jumel's death she sought 
the legal advice of Aaron Burr with whom she had been 



amona ©IMlme yamillce 327 

acquainted in her youth. It is doubtless true, as has 
been asserted, that they first met during attendance 
at the Church, where both were early communicants. 
The association as lawyer and client led to an intimacy 
which ended in marriage on July i, 1833, at a time when 
the groom was in his seventy-eighth year. A few days 
after the wedding she placed in his hands for invest- 
ment a large sum of money and this being lost in Texas 
speculation caused her to file complaint against him. 
A separation ensued although no divorce was obtained. 
Burr, the son of the Rev. Dr. Aaron Burr, was bom 
in the old parsonage of the First Church of Newark, 
Feb. 6, 1756. ^ In the autumn of that year, the college 
buildings at Princeton were completed and his father 
removed there as President of the institution. Mme. 
Jumel, as she continued to be known, lived in retire- 
ment tmtil her death, July 16, 1865. An obituary 
which appeared in the New York Times on the i8th 
has been republished in pamphlet form. Her property 
was the subject of a controversy in the courts which 
was compromised in 1880, when deeds were exchanged 
{Videh. 1545, pp. 431, 435 ;L. 1559, pp. 223,409). 

The widow of the far-famed Alexander Hamilton was 
a communicant as distinguished from a member. She 
became connected with Bloomingdale in two ways. 
Her son, John C. Hamilton, married a daughter of 
Governor van den Heuvel, and her connection with the 
Orphan Asylum often brought her to its new location 
on the Teunis Somerindyck farm. Among those who 
subscribed to the building fund of the new House of 

1 It was the Rev. Dr. David Schuyler Bogart, the pastor first called 
by the Church, who performed the marriage ceremony between 
Aaron Burr and Theodosia Provoost at Paramus, N. J., July 2, 
1782. She died in New York City, 1794. 



328 Zhe IRew IPorft of IPeeterbap 

Worship, Col. Nicholas Fish was conspicuous. He also 
owned a pew therein. The son of Jonathan and Eliza- 
beth (Sackett) Fish, he was one of the foremost repre- 
sentatives of the patriotism which the leaders of social 
New York exhibited in the trying times of the Revolu- 
tion. Bom in 1758, he had just left Princeton College 
to take up the study of law, when the war began. As 
an aid -de -camp to Brigadier- General George Morin 
Scott, he served in the battle of Long Island and in 
the operations around New York, and afterwards 
participated in the battle of Saratoga and commanded 
a corps of light infantry at Monmouth. At the siege of 
Yorktown, he was a Lieutenant-Colonel commanding a 
portion of the New York Line. After the war, he was 
equally distinguished in civil life both in society and 
business pursuits. Washington appointed him Super- 
visor of the Revenue, which at that time was a high 
position in the Treasury Department, and he also 
became Adjutant-General of the State of New York. 
In 1797, he was Treasurer of the New York Society of 
the Cincinnati. His connection with Bloomingdale 
history has been narrated elsewhere. He m. Elizabeth 
Stuyvesant, the great-great-granddaughter of the old 
Governor. 

Another subscriber and pew-owner was the War 
Governor of New York during the second war with 
England. Daniel D. Tompkins was a native of 
Scarsdale, where he was born in 1774. He served as 
Governor from 1807 to 181 7 and during the war was 
in command of the 3d U. S. Military District, in which 
capacity he was untiring in his exertions for the public 
good. On May 2, 1814, the first stone in the construc- 
tion of Fort Tompkins at the Narrows was laid and 
another fort bearing his name was located at Sackett's 




Portrait and signature of Hon. Daniel D. Tompkins, Governor of New 
York State and Vice-President of the United States, from the paint- 
ing in the collection of the New York Historical Society 



Bmong ®I^*'time ifamlUee 329 

Harbor. His name is further commemorated and 
handed down to posterity by Tompkins County in 
this State, Tompkinsville on Staten Island, Tompkins 
Square and Market (erected in 1830) in Manhattan, and 
Tompkins Park and Avenue in Brooklyn. His public 
papers have been published and are of great value, 
especially in connection with the war. While yet serving 
as Governor he was elected the 6th Vice-President of 
the United States, and filled that position during the 
two successive terms of President Monroe (18 17 to 
1825). He was present at the dedication of the new 
House of Worship. Soon after his time of office expired 
he retired to Tompkinsville, S. I. and d. June 11, 1825, 
at the early age of fifty-one years. Gov. Tompkins's 
father was Jonathan G. Tompkins, a Revolutionary 
soldier. The young man was educated at Columbia 
College and graduated 1795. Within two years 
thereafter he was admitted to the bar. He early took 
an interest in politics and in 1801 was a delegate to the 
Constitutional Convention. The same year he was 
elected to the Assembly and became a recognized leader. 
In 1804 he was elected to Congress but never served, 
resigning before the session began to fill the post of 
Associate Justice on the State Supreme Court Bench 
made vacant by the election of James Kent as Chief 
Justice. On June 9, 1807, he resigned from the Bench 
to run for Governor against Morgan Lewis. He was 
elected and made such a creditable record as chief 
executive that he was re-elected in 1809 and again in 
1 81 1. It was in the trying days of the War of 18 12 
that Gov. Tompkins shone the brightest. He got the 
militia in the field early and even went to the extent 
of purchasing weapons from private citizens. He had 
these arms delivered at the arsenal in this city and in a 



330 Zbe IRew l^orft of lpe0ter^a^ 

short time he had armed 40,000 militiamen for the 
defence of New York, Buffalo, Plattsburg, and Sackett's 
Harbor. When the New York banks refused to lend 
money on U. S. Treasury notes without the govern- 
ment's indorsement he, as Commander of the U. S. 
Military District, unhesitatingly gave it. Pledging his 
personal and official credit he advanced the money 
which kept up the Military Academy at West Point, 
paid for the manufacturing of arms at Springfield, 
and continued the recruiting service. It was while 
the Governor was in the midst of his activities connected 
with the war that he was invited by President Madison 
to become Secretary of State to fill the place vacated 
by James Monroe, who had become Secretary of War. 
The offer was refused, however, and in 181 5 Gov. 
Tompkins was again re-elected Governor. In April, 
181 6, he was nominated and later elected Vice-President. 
Before resigning the Governorship he sent a message 
to the Legislature recommending that a day be fixed 
for the abolition of slavery in the State. In accordance 
with this recommendation the Legislature named July 
4, 1827, as Emancipation Day. In 1820 Gov. Tompkins 
was re-elected Vice-President. He was fully as promi- 
nent in Masonic circles as he was in politics. He was 
Secretary of the Grand Lodge from 1802 to 1804 and 
Grand Master from 1820 to 1821. One of the founders 
of the New York Historical Society, he was an incor- 
porator of the Public School Society and a Regent of 
the State University. General Lafayette stayed at his 
residence on Staten Island on his arrival on the Cadmus 
on Sunday, August 15, 1822. The following day the 
city was honored by the General's presence. Governor 
Tompkins's remains lie buried in the churchyard of St. 
Mark's, in the vault of his father-in-law Mangle Min- 




Ai- 




Uy (y^^ 



jAr^J 



r 



Portrait and signature of the Hon. Brockholst Livingston, Asso. Justice of 
the U. S. Supreme Court. By courtesy of Miss Ann L. Livingston 



among ©IMlme jTamUtee 331 

thorne. There is a movement on foot under the aus- 
pices of the Masonic fraternity to erect his memorial 
statue in City Hall Park. A monument now marks 
his birthplace. 

Judge Henry Brockholst Livingston was another 
supporter of the Church. He dropped the Christian 
name to distinguish him from his kinsman Henry 
Beekman Livingston of Clermont, whose initials were 
the same. His services to the nation have been detailed 
elsewhere. His descent follows: 

1. Robert Livingston, ist Lord of the Manor, m. Alida, 
dau. of Philip Pieterse and Margarita (van Slechtenhorst) 
Schuyler, the widow of Domine Nicholas van Rensselaer. 

2. Philip Livingston, 2d Lord of the Manor, m. Cath- 
erine, only dau. of Peter and Sara (Cuyler) van Brugh. 

3. William Livingston, ist Governor of New Jersey 
(1776-1790), Signer Federal Constitution, 1787; m. Su- 
sanna, dau. of Philip and Susanna (Brockholst) French. 

4. Henry Brockholst Livingston, m. (i) Catharine 
Keteltas. Their eldest dau. m. her cousin Jasper Hall 
Livingston of Jamaica, W. I., a grandson of Philip Living- 
ston the Signer. 

m. (2) Ann M., dau. of Gabriel and Ann (WilHams) 
Ludlow. Issue: Carroll Livingston, m. Cornelia, 
dau. of Henry Walter Livingston, of the Manor; 
Anson Livingston, m. Ann, eldest sister of Cor- 
nelia. 

m. (3) Catharine, dau. of Edmund Seaman and widow 
of Capt. John Kortright. 

Jeremiah John Drake appeared as a witness in 1820 
to the marriage of John Augustus Sidell and Marilla 
Adeline Noxon. The bride lived with her sister 
Clarinda Noxon, Mr. Drake's wife, in a house which 
stood on the site of the Orphan Asylum. The Noxons 



332 Zhc 1Revo l?ork of l^eeter^a^ 

came from Poughkeepsie. Mrs. Drake sold the Bloom- 
ingdale property circa 1827. Mr. Sidell was an old- 
time lawyer of note. Jeremiah John Drake was bom 
in the town of Cortlandt, Westchester County, April 26, 
1782, and died at Bloomingdale Jan. 8, 1827. He was a 
lawyer in New York and a master in chancery. His 
father John died at Lansingburgh, N. Y. 

The mansion of Baron John Cornelius van den 
Heuvel became the line of demarkation between the 
upper and lower sections of the congregation. The 
former Dutch Governor gave liberally to the organiza- 
tion. He had m. Justine Henrietta van Baerle, who d. 
in 1793 leaving children, some of whom resided in 
Holland, and it was she who purchased the Blooming- 
dale lands. In 182 1, the Governor obtained releases 
from the heirs-at-law. He d. in 1826 seized of the 
property and devised it, in nine parts, among his 
children, share and share alike. Those by his second 
wife, Charlotte Apthorp, who d. before him, were: 
Maria, wife of John C. Hamilton; Charles Apthorp van 
den Heuvel; Justine, wife of Gouverneur S. Bibby; and 
Susan Annette, wife of Thomas S. Gibbes. 

Among others who were either communicants, 
attendants,''or contributors to the support of the Church 
and about whom a slight framework of the leading 
events which shaped their lives is hereinafter given, 
were: 

John Broome, the quondam Lieut.-Governor, whose 
name has been preserved in Broome Street, this city, 
and Broome County in the State. The proximity of 
his country-seat has been noted. 

Richard Riker, whose affectionate soubriquet 
"Dickey" has survived. The son of Samuel Riker, a 
patriot and a prisoner during the war, he was bom in 









'U4^C 



Portrait and signature of Baron John C. Van den Ileuvel, former Governor 

of Demarara, from the original painting in possession of William 

Henry Bibby, Esq. 



among ©IMime jfamllles 333 

1773 and educated under the tuition of the Rev, Dr. 
Witherspoon, the famous head of Nassau Hall of the 
College of New Jersey (Princeton) . He was admitted 
to the bar in 1795 and shortly thereafter became Dis- 
trict Attorney for New York City. In 18 15, he was 
made Recorder, an office which was legislated out of 
existence in 1907, and with occasional short inter- 
missions retained his seat on the bench until 1838. He 
left a record as one of the most learned and upright 
judges that the city ever possessed. 

James Buchanan, the British Consul, who had 
children buried in its churchyard. He was of the 
firm of Buchanan & Thompson, 243 Queen (Pearl) 
Street. A director of the only bank in the city, the 
Bank of New York, "he was a great man in our city 
in his day," says a chronicler. 

Gideon Lee, Mayor 1833-4, had a house in Blooming- 
dale on lands which he purchased in 1822 and which 
were part of those of Charles Ward Apthorp. These 
were bounded southeasterly by Eighth Avenue, north- 
easterly by a public road, southwesterly by land 
formerly of the same estate and late of Robert L. 
Bowne, now of William Edgar, northwesterly by land 
also formerly of the same estate and now of William 
Jauncey, and comprised part of lot No. 8 which fell 
to the share of Ann Apthorp and part of lot No. 7 
which fell to the share of Grizzel Shaw, both children of 
said Apthorp. On this property stood a "mansion 
house" according to an agreement on record, 1836, in 
L. 34, Conv. 594. The term of Mayor Lee was sig- 
nalized by a number of happenings, the most important 
of which were the appearance of the Knickerbocker 
Magazine, the extension of the route of the New York 
and Harlem Railroad to Murray Hill, the laying of the 



334 Zhe "Wew l?orft of lPe6ter^al5 

first block or Belgian pavement in a street in this city 
or country, the death of Col. Nicholas Fish, the visit 
to the city of President Jackson, the marriage of Aaron 
Burr as above detailed, and the opening of Sailors' 
Snug Harbor on Staten Island. Other noted happen- 
ings were these : The New York Sun began publication, 
lotteries in the State were abolished, the United States 
Hotel on Fulton Street was opened, James Fenimore 
Cooper arrived in the city after a long residence abroad, 
the fish-market at Washington Market was opened, and 
University Place extended from Eighth Street to 
Fourteenth Street. In April, 1834, occurred the first 
election of Mayor by popular vote, Cornelius R. 
Lawrence being chosen. 

James Boggs, for many years President of the 
Phoenix Bank. His seat in Bloomingdale has been 
adverted to. He maintained a pew and his family and 
later his son-in-law were attendants. John W. Liv- 
ingston, who m. his daughter Julia, was in the army in 
early life (Capt. of Artillery and Engineers, appointed 
June 4, 1798, resigned Dec. i, 1804) and served in the 
War of 181 2. He became Marshal of the Northern 
District of New York and took up his residence at 
Skaneateles, where he resided for twenty-one years. 
On removing to this city he retired to private life. 

William Jauncey, the eminent English merchant, 
who lived in the Ap thorp mansion, was an early sub- 
scriber. It would seem that he made an offer for a 
pew at the sale; we find, however, no direct authority 
for the statement that he took advantage of his bid. 

Thomas Addis Emmet, son of the famous Irish 
patriot. He came to America in 1804 and soon rose 
to a position of prominence as a leader of the New York 
bar. He owned a tract on the east side of the Bloom- 



Hmona ®I^^time jfamillee 335 

ingdale Road in the Great Kill district which he ac- 
quired in 1807 and 1824 and which in the XVIII 
century belonged to the Webbers family. In 181 2 
he became Attorney-General of the State and died 
suddenly (Nov. 11, 1827) while conducting a case in the 
U. S. Circuit Court. His remains lie in the Marble 
Cemetery in Second Street, near Second Avenue, 
and a monument to his memory stands in St. Paul's 
churchyard in Broadway. He left him surviving a 
widow, Jane, who d. Nov. 20, 1846, and these children, 
viz.: Robert, 1 792-1873, a lawyer and a leader in the 
contemplated Irish insurrection of 1848; Margaret; 
Elizabeth, wife of William H. Le Roy; John Patten, 
M.D., 1797-1842 (Aug. 13th); Jane E., wife of Bache 
McEvers; Mary Ann, wife of Edward A. B. Graves; and 
William C. Emmet. 

William Rhinelander, another early adherent, was 
the second of the name in this country and was de- 
scended from Philip Jacob Rhinelander, a Huguenot, 
who sought refuge in America after the Revocation. 
Born in New York in 1753, he lived until 1825. He 
was trustee of the family estate, and, like his ancestors 
and descendants, was an extensive landowner. In 
1785 he m. Mary Robert (1755-1837), a sister of Col. 
Robert, a line officer in the army of the Revolution and 
a descendant of Daniel Robert, a Huguenot, who 
arrived in this country in 1686. She was the aunt of 
Christopher Rhinelander Robert who founded Robert 
College in Constantinople. 

Samuel Borrowe was a subscriber whose country- 
seat was within the confines of Central Park, over- 
looking Central Park West at 105th Street and which 
was demolished in Dec, 1897. He had purchased a 
plot of four acres in 1796 and to the house led what was 



336 Zhc IRew ©orft of |?e0ter^ap 

long known as Clendining Lane, which extended from 
the Bloomingdale Road at 103d Street and ended at the 
Borrowe residence. The Clendining mansion stood on 
the lane at present Columbus Avenue and 104th Street. 
The owner, John Clendining, made a donation to the 
building fund and long maintained a pew. Both he 
and his first wife Margaret became members in 1823 by- 
certificate from the Presbyterian church. His son 
William was baptized by Dr. Gunn, in 18 10. Later he 
attended St. Michael's Church, nearer his home. His 
widow Letitia, aged seventy-four years, was interred 
in the family vault at the Brick Meeting House (Dr. 
Spring's), March 18, 1843. 

Clement C. Moore, the acknowledged Hebrew author- 
ity who made all children his debtors by writing The 
Night before Christmas, contributed to the early 
funds, as did John V. Brevoort, John G. Coster, William 
Ogden, William James Stewart, John S. Roulet, and 
Stephen van Rensselaer of Albany. Henry Rutgers 
was another subscriber. His daughter Elizabeth was 
the wife of Gerard de Peyster, another friend of the 
Church, and died before her father (1775). Mary 
Rutgers, another daughter, m. Stephen McCrea and she 
was likewise a contributor. Gerard de Peyster was 
the only child of James William de Peyster who lived 
in Bloomingdale and d. 1817. He m. (i) Margaret de 
Peyster, dau. of his uncle John, and d. in September, 
1824, leaving James, b. 1796, whose mansion was on the 
present site of St. Luke's Hospital, Momingside Heights, 
Cornelia, who m. Gerard William Livingston, a later 
officer of the Church, and Anna H., the wife of Peter W. 
Livingston. 

John G. Coster was bom in Haarlem, Holland, and 
came to New York about the date of the Revolution. 



Bmona ©Ib^tlme jfamlllea 337 

He was educated for a physician. He and his elder 
brother, Henry A., who reached here a few years be- 
fore him, formed a partnership with a place of busi- 
ness at No. 20 Dock (now Pearl) Street. In 1821, 
when Henry A. died, they lived and had their store at 
26 William Street, where they had been since 1799. 
John G. continued the business until 1825. He re- 
moved his residence to no Broadway in 1805. The 
firm dealt in all sorts of Holland goods — one article 
in particular, called "Krollenvogel," a species of tape 
made of flax. They imported every variety of oil- 
cloths. Not only did they import but they were 
constantly buying and shipping to Europe all kinds 
of produce. They had strong connections in the old 
Dutch cities for they had heavy orders and they traded 
also in their own ships, sending out supercargoes. 
John G. was elected director of the Manhattan Bank 
in 181 3 and in 1826, President, in place of Henry 
Remsen. He was also a director of the Phoenix 
Insurance Co. When John Jacob Astor wished to 
build the Astor House, he bought Coster's house and 
lot at 227 Broadway. Coster had built a splendid gra- 
nite double residence in 1833 up at 539 Broadway, 
which was a palace in its day, and here he removed. 
He died circa 1846. 

Cornelius Ray had property in lower Bloomingdale 
and although it is not known that he owned a pew, yet 
he had the Church's welfare at heart. A number of 
the slaves bearing the family name were married and 
had children baptized there. Mr. Ray was the son of 
Richard and Sarah (Bogert) Ray, entered mercantile life 
at an early age, was elected a member of the Chamber 
of Commerce and served as its President from May 6, 
1806, until May 4, 18 19, when he declined a re-election. 



33^ ZTbe 1Revo ^ovJx of IPesterbai? 

William Edgar. He m. Eliza L., dau. of Frederick 
William, the fourth son of William Rhinelander, and 
her sister Louisa was the first wife of Gardner Greene 
Howland of the Bloomingdale family. 

Archibald Gracie was a subscriber and pew-holder. 
A Scotchman, he founded the great East Indian firm 
known as Archibald Gracie & Sons. As a merchant, 
he was among the foremost of this or any other country 
— ^his ships visiting every port of the world. His 
daughter, Sarah Rogers Gracie, m., 1813, James Gore 
King, the famous banker of Prime, Ward, & King. 
Mr. Gracie d. in 1829. Dr. Samuel Latham Mitchell, 
in his Picture of New York, 1807, says that " the superb 
house and grounds of Archibald Gracie stood upon 
the very spot called Hoorn's Hoek, upon which a 
fort erected by the Americans in 1776 stood till about 
the year 1794, when the present proprietor caused the 
remains of the military works to be levelled at great 
expense and erected on their rocky base, his elegant 
mansion and appurtenances." 

The Bownes were Quakers who settled in Flushing 
and suffered for conscience' sake in early New Amster- 
dam. The Friends and the Baptists were the only 
people who were persecuted in the colony because of 
their religious opinions. One of the Bownes was 
arrested and after being tied to a cart- tail and dragged 
through the streets was imprisoned. Stuyvesant's 
methods of eliminating these to him objectionable 
elements of the population were brought to the atten- 
tion of his masters, the Holland directors of the West 
India Company, and their feelings in the matter were 
expressed in a letter which can be found in the Docu- 
mentary History of the State, wherein such persecution 
was expressly prohibited and the toleration of all forms 



among ®I&*'tlmc jfamlllee 339 

of religious sentiment sanctioned. Thus freedom of 
religion was established in the colony. The Bownes 
of Bloomingdale descend from Robert L. Bowne who 
acquired the Stilwell property lying between 85 th and 
89th Streets from the east side of the Bloomingdale 
Road to the Commons, by these conveyances : 

1795, Nov. 30, Samuel Stilwell and Elizabeth his 
wife; 12 A. 3 R. 15 J P. Consideration ;^8 3.";, N. Y. 
currency. 

1798, Mch. 5, Samuel S. Bowne; 13 A. 3 R. 22^ P.; 
land which he had purchased of said Stilwell Dec. 
31, 1795. Consideration ;^2ioo. 

1799, Jan. 2, Samuel Stilwell and Elizabeth; 4 A. 
2 R. Consideration $1000. 

1799, Aug. 10, Samuel Stilwell and Elizabeth; 6 A. 

2 R. by estimation. Consideration $1625. 
1 80 1, June 12, John McVickar and Anna his wife; 

7 A. I R. 30 P. Consideration $2789.06. 
On Jan. 2, 1809, Bowne mortgaged the entire property 

of 45 A. 2 P. to William Edgar to secure $20,000. 

On Aug. 20, 1819, Edgar took possession of the 

property under foreclosure. 

When Robert L. Bowne d. June 21, 182 1, he left him 
surviving these children, viz.: Rowland R., George, 
Eliza, afterwards wife of Jacob C. Skillman, Amy, 
Abigail S., Amelia, Matilda, Hannah, and Gulielma 
Bowne. 

William Edgar was a merchant whose " white marble 
palace" at 7 Greenwich Street was still standing 
as late as i860. In 1797 he lived at 7 Wall Street. 
Treasurer of the first insurance company, the Mutual, 
started in 1793, he was also a director of the Bank of 
New York and a prominent member of St. Patrick's 



340 Zhc "Wew l?ork of l?e6tcr^a^ 

Society. He d. Nov. i, 1820, leaving a son William 
who d. Aug. 27, 1823. The latter's issue were William, 
Herman Le Roy, Newbold, Daniel M., Robert, and 
Hannah, later the wife of Robert R. Morris of Pelham. 
In 1849 these heirs conveyed the mortgaged premises 
to Peter Augustus Jay (L. 576, 331), who on Oct. 11, 
1852, sold the same to Martin Zabriskie for $52,000. 
Rachel, one of the freed slaves of the Edgar family, and 
her husband joined the communion April 29, 183 1, 
while Domine Kip was in charge. 

Lewis Bowne was m. by Domine van Aken to 
Maria Stickles in 1844 and to this family also belonged 
Walter Bowne the quondam Mayor. 

George McKay lived in the house at 92d Street and 
the North River built by Jacob Coles Mott as hereto- 
fore mentioned. He had purchased four and a half 
acres of the Mott and Weyman tract of nineteen acres, 
in 1820, and here he resided up to the time of his death, 
Nov. 1 6, 1836. He was an original subscriber for a pew 
and attended the services. His widow d. Nov. 26th of 
the same year. He had one child, Capt. George Knox 
McKay, who m. Sarah, dau. of David Frothingham, 
originally of Charlestown, Mass., but who at the time 
of the marriage was the editor of the Long Island- 
Gazette, at Sag Harbor, the first newspaper published 
on Long Island. This obituary of the Captain is from 
the Evening Post of Sept. 27, 18 14: 

This morning, at 10 o'clock, in the 24th year of his age, 
of a consumption brought on by a severe cold, incurred 
on military duty in the service of his country, George 
K. McKay. 

His friends and acquaintances, those of his father George 
McKay, and his late brother officers and men attached to 
his command in the 3d Regiment Volunteers, are respect- 



Hmona iS)l^^time ifamiliea 341 

fully invited to attend his funeral to-morrow at 4 o'clock 
P.M. from his late residence No. 91 Nassau St. 

His only child, Margaret Helen McKay, m., in 1833, 
Richard Lawrence Schieffelin, b. in 1801, graduate of 
Columbia College, law student with his brother-in-law 
Benjamin Ferris. He practised his profession until 
1843, and thereafter devoted himself to the care of 
his real estate, part of which was the land above 
described, and corporate interests. At his death in 
1889, he was senior warden of St. Mary's Church at 
Manhattan ville, founded by his father Jacob, whose 
country-seat was at about 144th Street and ran from 
the Hudson River to what is now St. Nicholas Avenue. 
About the year 1800, Jacob sold that portion of this 
land lying to the eastward of the Kingsbridge Road, 
to Alexander Hamilton, upon which the latter built 
"The Grange" where he resided at the time of his 
lamented death. 

Nathaniel Prime, another whose donations to the 
Church were liberal, the head of one of the great banking 
houses of the period and a merchant prince, settled 
in New York, before the close of the XVHI century, 
had a town house at No. i Broadway and a country- 
seat at present 89th Street and the East River. It is 
now one of the buildings of St. Joseph's Orphan 
Asylum. Some of its old fire-places and mantels are 
preserved, and from its upper balcony may be obtained 
a fine view of Hell-Gate. He died there suddenly in 
1840. His wife, Cornelia, was the dau. of Comfort 
Sands, first President of the Chamber of Commerce. 

Ichabod Prall joined the Church Feb. 2, 181 5, was 
elected Deacon on April nth, in place of Deacon Web- 
bers, and added to the building committee of the second 
House of Worship. When Elder Hopper died, Deacon 



342 ^be IRew l?ork of l^esterbai? 

Prall was selected to fill the vacancy in the Eldership, 
Aug. 2, 1824, and then began to represent the Consistory 
at Classis, which he did many times thereafter. He 
became Clerk of the Board in 1829 after Dr. Gunn's 
decease. On Dec. i, 1830, he resigned these offices and 
took letters of dismission to the Collegiate Church, 
Mar. 21, 1 83 1. He was a descendant of the Huguenot 
family of de Prael, of which Arent de Prael, b. 1646, 
came to America. His (i) wife was Maria, dau. of 
Peter Billeu, He settled at a place called Morning 
Star on Staten Island with his (2) wife Trintje (Cath- 
erine). Because he had abjured Roman Catholicism, 
he was obliged, according to French records, to slightly 
change the family coat-of-arms and this modification 
he had painted on his barn door at his new abode. His 
will, dated 1725, is of record in Richmond County. His 
children were, among others, Peter, Arent, Abraham, 
Antje, and Isaac. Peter, said to be one of seven sons, 
b. 1672 (?) at Staten Island, d. Oct. 27, 1748, m. Mary 

. His son Abraham of Staten Island, b. Oct. 15, 

1706, d. Sept. 28, 1775, m., May 9, 1731, Alida Hegeman, 
b. Oct. 16, 1700, d. Sept. 15, 1 78 1. They had Abraham, 
Benjamin, Peter, Catherine, and Mary. Abraham of 
Staten Island, b. Jan. 11, 1741, d. May 16, 1820, m.. 
May 22, 1768, Mary, dau. of Daniel Stillwell, b. May 28, 
1749, d. April 25, 181 1. Issue: Abraham, b. 1770, d. 
Oct. 22, 1807; Daniel, b. 1775, d. Oct. 10, 1817, and 
Ichabod. Samuel Stillwell, b. at Jamaica, L. I., Oct. 22, 
1763, was later a Bloomingdale resident and Stillwell 
Lane was a landmark for many years. 

Ichabod Prall of New York City was b. June 2, 1776, 
d. in Sept., 1849. He m., Aug. 24, 1801, Hannah, dau. 
of John Thompson, b. Sept. 26, 1782. She joined the 
communion the same day as her husband. He was 



among ©IMime jfamlllee 343 

2d Major from June 8, 1808, in the Light Infantry 
Regiment commanded by Lieut.-Col. Edward W. 
Haight, promoted ist Major, 4th Regiment, in 18 10, 
serving through the War of 181 2. He became Lieut.- 
Col. of the io6th Regiment of Infantry in 1815 and 
resigned 181 7. On Oct. 12, 18 18, Elder Harsen re- 
ported to the Consistory the absence of Deacon Prall 
who was "particularly engaged in moving up." In 
what house he lived at Bloomingdale, is not definitely 
known except that it was located " just across the road " 
from the Harsen homestead. At first, the family 
occupied it during the summer, moving from the city 
residence at No. 168 Water Street, next door to the 
store of his brother Abraham at No. 167. The water, 
then, came up to the door. The latter was one of the 
wealthiest merchants in the city prior to 1798. " Who 
does not remember Ichabod?" asks Walter Barrett, 
clerk. "He was a fine venerable looking man in the 
time of General Jackson, who, I think, gave him an 
office in the Custom House, for he had been unfor- 
tunate in business." Abraham was thrown from his 
carriage and killed. Ichabod served in the State 
Assembly. Some of his children were John T. , Hannah 
Maria, Helen S., Ichabod, and Henry Rutgers. His 
son Abraham Augustus, b. Jan. 13, 1804, d .Sept .10, 
1857, was m. by Dr. Gunn, July 13, 1825, to Joanna 
Henrietta Harsen, b. Oct. 12, 1806, d. Dec. 8, 1838, and 
their dau. Cornelia Augusta, m. Dec. 26, 1861, the Rev. 
Eastburn Benjamin, b. Feb. 5, 1837, son of Col. Meigs de 
Lucena Benjamin of Bridgeport, Conn., grandson of 
Asa Benjamin of Stratford, and great-grandson of Col. 
John Benjamin, wounded at the battle of Redding, 
Conn. Rev. Mr. Benjamin was a lawyer, but later a 
clergyman. Being proficient in the deaf-mute language 



344 ^be 1Rew ^ov\\ of IDeeterba^ 

he became assistant to Dr. Gallaudet. He started the 
Home for the Blind at Amsterdam Avenue and 104th 
Street, and d. at the early age of 36, Sept. 18, 1874. 
Two of Abraham A. Prall's children were baptized by 
Dr. Gunn. 

Johannah, the widow of Abraham Keteltas Beekman, 
was received into membership on certificate from the 
Church at Haerlem, Aug. i, 181 7. She died in 182 1, 
bequeathing some lots to the Consistory which had 
been a part of the estate of Nicholas Bayard, deceased, 
and later of Pierre van Cortlandt. Some of this land 
she devised to her nieces Mary Marx, Amaryllis Laura 
de Labigarre, and Maria Louise Stewart, daughters 
of her deceased sister Margaret de Labigarre. Ama- 
ryllis joined the Church May 3, 181 5, Maria Louise 
was married to William Robert Stewart by Dr. Gunn 
on Sept. 26, 181 6, in presence of Mr. Beekman. 
Both became members Oct. 31st, and he died in 
the fall of 18 1 8. Abraham K. Beekman died Nov. 
27, 18 1 6, and they left no lineal descendants. Be- 
sides the bequests mentioned in a previous chapter, 
Mrs. Beekman left other land to Peter W. Livingston 
and to Cornelia, wife of Isaac B. Cox, her sister-in-law. 
Said Cox died July 4, 1846, and his widow Jan. 26, 
1847. They had two children, viz., Catharine M. and 
Abraham B. Cox. Others to receive bequests were 
her cousins Johannah V. B. Ursin, Margaret Thomas, 
now of the island of St. Croix, W. I., daughters of her 
aunt Mary Robinson, deceased, and nephew William 
Livingston and niece Eliza Livingston. Witnesses 
to the will were Edward H. Livingston, William H. 
Livingston, and Francis R. Tillou and to the codicil 
Samuel Borrowe, Samuel Borrowe, Jr., and Abraham 
K. Fish. John Beekman who served as executor with 



amona ©IMime jfamllles 345 

Dr. Gunn was testatrix's brother-in-law and owned 
land between that of Caspar Meier and Claremont, 
His residence was on the bluff at present 120th Street. 
He owned a pew at the Church and both he and his 
brother Gerard were original subscribers to the building 
fund. The former's son James was baptized by Dr. 
Gunn in 1814. When he died, Dec. 8, 1843, his widow, 
Mary Elizabeth Goad, survived together with these 
children, viz.: William F., Mary A., wife of William 
de Peyster; John C, Catharine B. Fish, a widow; Jane, 
wife of Jacob Hallet Borrowe; and Lydia, wife of 
Joseph Foulke. 

Abraham K. Beekman had these brothers and sisters : 
William, died Aug. 15, 1808, unmarried; John; James; 
Gerard; Samuel; Jane, wife of Stephen van Cortlandt; 
Catharine, wife of Elisha Boudinot; Mary N., wife of 
Stephen N. Bayard; and Cornelia, wife of Isaac B. 
Cox. William Beekman's will, dated Oct. 6, 1807, 
proved Sept. 19, 1808 (L. 47 Wills, 416), left to his 
brother Abraham K. a suit of mourning and a mourning 
ring. He had previously received the greater part of 
the estate on the east side of their uncle Abraham 
Beekman. His brother Samuel died March 7, 181 6, 
unmarried. Gerard Beekman, a building fund sub- 
scriber, died July 15, 1833, leaving his widow, Catharine 
and one child, James William Beekman. His will, 
dated March 6, 1832, was proved Aug. 21, 1833 
(L. 70 Wills, 422). The widow died Oct. 15, 1835. 
EHsha Boudinot died prior to December 1836, and left, 
no issue. James Beekman died April 8, 1837, un- 
married. His will, dated June 12, 1834, proved May 
13, 1837 (L. 76 Wills, 268), bequeathed his estate to 
his nephew James William Beekman. Catharine Bou- 
dinot's will was dated Nov. 4, 1836, and proved May 



346 ^be IRew l?orft of 13e0tert)a^ 

17, 1839 (L. 80 Wills, 22). Jane van Cortlandt died, 
intestate and childless prior to Dec, 1841, her husband 
Stephen being also dead. William de Peyster and 
Mary A., his wife, had children, viz. Jane van Cortlandt, 
Catharine Augusta, Cornelia Beekman, Elizabeth van 
Rensselaer, and Gerard Beekman de Peyster. The 
above data were obtained from an old abstract. 

Abraham K. Beekman was the son of James and 
Jane (Keteltas) Beekman and his wife Johannah, the 
daughter of Gerard William Beekman. Holgate (185 1) 
says the latter's residence was at the comer of Sloat 
Lane and Hanover Square and became during the 
Revolution the abode of many of the British officers, 
and among others of Admiral Digby, who had as a 
protege Prince William Henry, late King of England. 
Many of the oldest residents of New York still remember 
that King, while still a youth, skating on the Kolch 
Pond, surrounded by a crowd of city boys. Gerard 
William Beekman was bom at Jamaica, L. I., Dec. 13, 
1 7 18, and was an importing merchant in New York 
city. He married Mary Duyckinck, who died June 4, 
1791, aged 63 ; he had died at Philadelphia Oct. 6, 1781. 

Following the order of the records we now reach 
Lavinia Striker. She was the second of the three 
children of the Elder by his first marriage, and was 
married to Jordan Mott in 1801 at Striker's Bay by his 
brother-in-law, the Rev. George Strebeck, then a 
Lutheran minister, who later foimded St. Stephen's 
P. E. Church at Chrystie and Broome Streets, of which 
he became the first rector. As a girl she was familiarly 
called by the Dutch diminutive Wyntje and as Winifred 
Mott she became known in the legal annals of the city. 
Her husband was the great-great-grandson of Adam 
Mott, whose arrival in New Amsterdam from Essex 



among ©Ib^time jfamilies 347 

County, England, tradition fixes at 1642, and where 
he is known to have been Hving two years later. He 
became a Dutch citizen and was granted by the govern- 
ment in 1646 twenty-five morgens (50 acres) of land 
"lying on the west side of the Kill of Mespachtes" 
(Newtown Creek L. I.), and was married in the church 
at the Capital July 23, 1647, to Jane Hulet of Bucking- 
ham, England, neither having been previously married. 
They became residents of Hempstead, on the north 
shore, about 1655. In Book A, the oldest extant an- 
nals of the town, he appears as one of the five Towns- 
men, chosen March 17, 1657. His descendants have 
been living on Cow (Great) Neck ever since. He be- 
came an important individual in the new settlement 
and as a "proprietor" was a large land-owner at Cow 
Neck, Rockaway, Merrock Neck, and Hungry Harbor, 
among other places. An instance of the confidence 
placed in him by the town was his selection for the 
post of deputy to meet a committee from the Dutch 
towns to determine the manner of future intercourse 
between the nationalities. This meeting took place 
at Hempstead. The Dutch delegates were Oloff 
Stevensen (van Cortlandt), Jacobus Backer, and John 
Lawrence; and those representing the English, Daniel 
Denton, John Underbill, and Adam Mott. A condi- 
tional agreement was signed Feb. 24, 1663-4 whereby 
it was determined that neither nationality should 
exercise jurisdiction for twelve months while the King 
and the States-General endeavored to effect a settle- 
ment of the "whole of the difficulty about the island 
and places adjacent." It was because of the uncertain 
conclusion of this meeting that the great "Landtdag," 
referred to on page 112, was called. It assembled 
April 10, 1664, deputies from all the Dutch towns being 



348 Zhc 1Revo IPorft of IPeeterbap 

present. Nothing of import was accomplished and it 
dissolved without doing anything to avert the impend- 
ing fate of the colony. In 1683, Governor Dongan 
required the town to take out a new patent. Ten 
individuals, of whom one was Mott, were chosen Octo- 
ber 9th of the following year "to go to York, the 20th 
inst. and endeavor the purchasing of a patent." The 
trip proved successful and the patent was issued April 
17, 1685. Mott was Lieutenant of the Town Militia 
and lived somewhere on the line of fence which parti- 
tioned off the Neck for common pasturage, between 
the present villages of Manhasset and Roslyn. All 
through the records he is frequently mentioned either 
in actions at law, in conveyances, in town matters, 
or in an official capacity. He m. (2) Elizabeth, dau. of 
Ann Parsons, wife of John Richbell, original patentee 
of Mamaroneck in Westchester County, probably by a 
previous husband whose name was Redman. By these 
unions he had a large family. He was not a Friend, 
as so many of his descendants became, but seems to 
have been a Presbyterian, although his son Joseph was 
a vestryman of St. George's, Hempstead, from 1708 to 
171 1 and was a petitioner for its charter June 27, 1735. 
Adam Mott d. circa April 5, 1690. His will, of record 
in New York County, devises much land and arranges 
for the division of his "four proprietorships" in the un- 
divided lands of Hempstead, half to each family of 
children. 

Jordan Mott was b. at Hempstead Harbor (Roslyn), 
Feb. 6, 1768. At the age of twenty-one, he became an 
importer on Pearl Street, whereon at this date (1789) 
and for many years thereafter was located the finest 
trade in the city. On the founding of St. Stephen's 
Church he was the first Treasurer, and was an original 



among ©IMime jfamllies 349 

stockholder of the Mechanics' Bank. In 1829, he 
retired from business and removed permanently to 
Bloomingdale, where he became largely interested in 
the charities and the upbuilding of the locality. He 
had a number of slaves, as was usual at this period, 
who were employed around the farm. Of his seven sons 
only two, James Striker and Samuel Coles, both of 
whom sang in the church choir, were born at "Mott's 
Point, " which was at first used as a coim try-seat only. 
From a boy the latter' s interest was much centred on 
horticulture and sylviculture, and although he was for 
some years a member of the wholesale drygoods house 
of Revo C. Hance & Co., at 174 Pearl Street, and later 
travelled in Europe and Central America, he found 
time to assist his mother in planting the broad acres 
around their home and in interesting his neighbors 
in his hobby. The few remaining trees yet standing 
on the Hopper farm are examples of the many placed 
along the sidewalks and in the grounds of cottages by 
his exertions. In laying out the grounds surrounding 
the homestead, Mrs. Mott was greatly assisted by the 
thick growth of forest trees which towered above the 
landscape in all their natural beauty. Lilacs formed a 
hedge on the water front along the retaining wall, and 
steps led down to the rocky shore and the bathing 
house. Advantage was taken of the supply of re- 
markable plants, shrubs, and trees which Lewis Morris, 
Minister to France, had imported from Holland, 
France, and Germany circa 1792, and distributed be- 
tween Montressor's (Ward's) and Randall's Islands and 
Morrisania. From the former island Mrs. Mott selected 
the vegetation which in later years so charmingly 
embellished her home. The garden was further 
adorned with the magnolia and the fig and among other 



350 OTe 1Rew l?ork of IPeeterba^ 

trees should be mentioned the persimmon, Madeira- 
nut, and splendid specimens of the Canton mulberry, the 
latter relics of Samuel's experiments in silk culture. 
The house was situated on the river's bank and was 
approached by Mott's Lane, once a shaded and grav- 
elled way leading from Eleventh Avenue, a portion of 
old Hopper's Lane which debouched therefrom and 
turned northwesterly just south of what came to be 
known as 54th Street. Here Domines Kip and van 
Aken were ever welcome. 

Mr. Mott retired as Treasurer of St. Stephen's when 
Mr. Strebeck resigned the charge in 1809 because of 
ill-health (vide History of St. Stephen's Parish, by Rev. 
J. Newton Perkins, 1906) and thereafter attended his 
wife's church. The portrait reproduced is from a wax 
miniature made in 1796 and placed in a locket which 
he presented to Lavinia Striker before marriage. The 
new Dutch church in Market St. was organized in 18 10 
and on October 30th he bought a pew there. His wife 
became a member of the Church at Harsenville, August 
I, 181 7, and a pew was acquired there. Mrs. Mott 
took her dismissal from Domine Kip January 3, 1830, 
to the Reformed Church in Broome Street, and in 1829 
they occupied pew No. 121 in that edifice. Jordan 
Mott d. Jan. 8, 1840, in his seventy-second year, at 
Mott's Point. His obituary recites that his generosity 
to his fellow-creatures, mildness of temper, and for- 
bearance associated about him friends with more than 
ordinary ties. As a citizen he was just, as a husband 
ever kind and affectionate, and as a parent exemplary 
and indulgent. He enjoyed retirement to his late 
residence at Bloomingdale, blessed with earth's best 
gifts, in the society of his family and surrounded by 
friends to whom his house was ever open. His ob- 



amona ©Ib-tlme jfamilles 351 

sequies were attended on the 12th by a large concourse. 
The widow, famiHarly called Wyntje, the Dutch 
diminutive of Winifred, continued to live at the home- 
stead with her children and grandchildren. Although 
she kept up on occasion her attendance at the Church, 
in later years she became a regular communicant 
of Dr. Hutton's church in Washington Square. She 
gave much time to charitable endeavor, being especially 
interested in the Orphan Asylum, the Colored Orphan 
Asylum, and that instituted for the care of the blind, 
exuding good cheer and bounty on her rounds. As a 
life-tenant of one third of the Hopper Farm, and after 
her sister Ann's death in i860 of one half, she was 
immersed in business to a considerable degree and, 
though her sons attended to the details, she was 
thoroughly posted in all matters of consequence relating 
thereto. Idolized by her children her home life was 
ideal, and she was fortunately compelled to suffer but 
two breaks in the direct family circle — the passing of 
her sons Samuel and Jacob. Rounding out a good old 
age, it may be stated that her life lines were cast in 
pleasant places. She d. at the age of eighty, at ' * Mott's 
Point," March 16, 1862, attended by Dr. Alexander E. 
Hosack. Services were held there on the i8th and her 
remains were deposited in the family vault in the 
churchyard at Harsenville, where those of her husband 
had preceeded her. The Christian Intelligencer of April 
3d commented thus of her character: 

Mrs. Mott was one of the few who, in passing away, 
leave a void not easily filled. Exemplary as a wife, de- 
voted as a mother, true as a Christian, she left behind the 
memory of the just. To her the veil that hides the future 
from all mortal eyes was softly lifted. She has passed the 
inevitable Gates leaning upon the protecting arm of the 



352 Zbc flew l?orh of IPesterbap 

God who was her stay all her days and her support in 
the hour of her death. It remains to us to imitate her 
virtue and emulate her example. 

The only one of her children baptized at Blooming- 
dale was Matavus Hopper Mott, which function Dr. 
Gunn performed on May 3, 18 16, it being the last 
baptism in the original church edifice. He was b. Sept. 
23, 18 1 5, at "Rosevale" the residence of General 
Striker, during a temporary visit. Early in life he 
abbreviated his christian name to "M" and in this 
way was known throughout life. He accompanied 
two of his elder brothers to the Mechanics' Society 
School and in 1830 attended a private school carried 
on by Adams & Parker at 41 Barclay Street. On Dec. 
loth of that year the principals wrote to his father that 
they took pleasure in informing him that Matavus had 
of late met with admirable success in his studies, which 
they thought was owing to his foundation of a proper 
habit of mind. "He has," they continued, "we now 
believe, learnt how to study and we trust that his future 
success will be equal to his past perseverance." In 
1836 he was with Samuel Hicks & Sons, merchants at 
80 South Street, and in 1840 at 23 Maiden Lane. 
During his cousin Dr. Valentine Mott's absence in 
Europe he had charge of his property interests, begin- 
ning in 1837. At the age of 21 he was Lieutenant of 
the 2d Company, 82d Regiment, 58th Brigade, in 
which command he was promoted to],Captain Aug. 4, 
1838. The book of military ritual of that day was 
entitled, "Tactics and Regulations for the Militia by 
Brevet Capt. S. Cooper, aid-de-camp to and super- 
vised by Maj. Gen. Alexander Macomb, commanding 
the army of the United States; Phila. 1836." After 
serving his time he resigned, and was honorably dis- 



*^ ^. 





• \^^;^fi^^ ey^t^l^^ 



Portrait and signature of M. Hopper Mott, Esq., from a water color in 
possession of the author 



among ©IMime families 353 

charged Sept. 13, 1843. Early imbued with politics of 
the Whig order he entered eagerly into the struggles 
of his ward and was delegated to city, State, and 
national conventions on numerous occasions. A 
personal friend of Henry Clay he worked for his election 
night and day, and in an effort to prevent fraudulent 
voting was assaulted at the polls, which action was 
denounced by The American of Dec. 17, 1844, as a 
"case of brutality inflicted upon one of our most 
esteemed citizens." The assailant was both fined 
and put imder bonds. In his 29th year Mr. Mott 
began to serve on the grand jury, then composed of 
seventeen members, becoming foreman soon thereafter. 
He was an organizer of the Broadway Savings Bank 
in 185 1 and served it as director and secretary, a 
trustee of the Public School Society, and a member of 
the American Institute. He ran for Congress on the 
People's ticket but failed of election. In 1853 he was 
a founder and first president of the St. Nicholas 
Insurance Co. at 65 Wall St., and director of the Knick- 
erbocker Bank. One of the notable lyrics, Washing- 
ton's Birthday, by the well-known lawyer-poet William 
Ross Wallace, was dedicated to Mr. Mott. In these 
days the songs of the composer of the Sword of 
Bunker Hill, Keep Step to the Music of the Union, and 
of the author of the line which was not bom to die, 
"The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world," 
have been resurrected and their beauty and patriotism 
again recognized. Mr. Mott was married to Miss 
Ruth A., youngest daughter of John J. Schuyler of 
Amsterdam, N. Y. The family with which he thus 
became allied descended from the Hon. David Pieterse 
Schuyler of Holland, who was at New Amsterdam 
Oct. 13, 1657. He was Justice of the Peace at Albany 



354 ^be flew l?orft of IPeeterba^ 

1683, Schepen 1686, Member of Convention 1689, and 
Magistrate 1693. He m. Catalina, dau. of Abram Isaac 
Verplanck, one of the "Twelve Men." The line de- 
scends as follows : 

Pieter Davidse, b. at Albany April 18, 1659, Judge 
of Oyer and Terminer there 1685, lived at Claverack 
1694, m. Alida van Slechtenhorst in Beverwyck, 
widow of Gerrit, son of Goosen Gerritse van Schayck, d. 
March 7, 1696. Her father, Brandt Arent van Slech- 
tenhorst, first Director of Rensselaerwyck, was from 
Nieukirke in Guilderland. He was also President of 
the Court of Justice and superintendent of all the 
bouweries, farms, and other property belonging to the 
Patroon. He sailed from Holland with his family and 
servants for Virginia Sept. 26, 1647, proceeding thence 
for the Manhattans Dec. 12, where he arrived Feb. 7. 
He reached Rensselaerwyck March 22. His son Gerrit 
became Officier or Schout-Fiscaal. The father re- 
fused to recognize the superior authority of Stuyvesant 
within the patroonship and the controversy waged 
between them for four years, during which he man- 
fully defended the rights of his "orphan patroon." 
This was Johannes, a minor at the time of his father's 
death, a son of Killaen by his first wife Hellegonda van 
Bylet. Van Slechtenhorst was intrusted with the 
management of the estate by the minor's imcle Johan- 
nes van Wely and Wouter van Twiller, executors of 
Killaen 's will. Eventually his house was burst open 
and he was placed under civil arrest and taken to 
Fort Orange to be later conveyed to Fort Amsterdam. 
Some of his time was passed on Staten Island, some at 
Breuckelen. He returned to Nieukirke and d. there 
in 1668. 

Davidt Pieterse, b. Dec. 26, 1688, at Albany, m. (i) 



amona ©IMlme jfamU!e0 355 

July 17, 1720, Anna Bratt; was of Canojoharie 1764. 
His will mentions his "second wife" and son Jacob. 

Jacob Davidse, b. March 24, 1734, of Albany, later 
of Florida, Montgomery Co. N. Y., m. Eve Swackhamer 
of German Valley, N. J. They had thirteen children, 
six sons and seven daughters. 

Jacob Jr., sixth child of the above, b. Feb. 2, 1764. 
His farm was situated two miles back on Schooley's 
Mountain from Stanhope, N. J., 40 miles from Morris- 
town, at a place called Springtown. He m. Martha 
Fancher and had fifteen children, six sons and nine 
daughters. He moved to Florida, N. Y., where he 
died. 

John Jacobse, their third son, b. May 26, 1791, at 
Florida, m., March 25, 1813, Susan Shaw. He died at 
Amsterdam Jan. 22, 1865, where he was a merchant and 
Vice-President and director of the Farmers' Bank. 
They became the parents of Mrs. M. Hopper Mott, 
the mother of Alexander Hosack Mott and of the 
author. 

Personally Mr. Mott was a man of fine mind and 
engaging presence, standing fully six feet in height 
and of large physique; he was of sandy complexion, 
with blue eyes. All his life a resident of Bloomingdale, 
with the exception of three years (1853-5) when he 
lived at 31 West 22d St., where both his children were 
born, he made his mark in the District. He served his 
party well, never seeking office, and when prevailed upon 
to run for Alderman and for Congress he ascertained 
what so many have before and since, that this is a 
Democratic town. His voice was not far-reaching and 
this failing caused him to act more largely as adviser, 
while others did the orating. An organizer and 
financier of ability, he was endowed with a gracious and 



356 ^be IRew l?ork of IJeeter^a^ 

prepossessing manner — a public-spirited man in the 
true sense. In his home he was of even disposition, 
sanguine in temperament, and a devoted son, husband, 
and father. Unfortunately some years prior to his 
decease he contracted an illness which seriously inter- 
fered with his usefulness and compelled his retirement 
from the activities of life in 1856. In his weakened 
condition his system found it impossible to withstand 
an attack of typhoid fever, from which he passed away 
at the homestead on Jan. 9, 1864. Funeral services 
were held there on the 12th. Rev. Drs. Hutton and van 
Aken officiated. The Striker vault at the Church 
being fully occupied his remains were deposited in the 
receptacle at the Marble Cemetery. On the demolition 
of the Church in 1868 all the Mott remains were re- 
moved to Greenwood. 

Barbara Asten, one of the principal benefactors of the 
Church, was never a member. The daughter of Caspar 
Samler, whose farm near present Madison Square has 
been mentioned, she was born in the homestead thereon. 
Her husband joined the communion Sept. 13, 18 18, 
his wife having died two years previously, at a time 
when he was solicited to assume office. The minutes 
of the 2ist state that his certificate was regular and 
satisfactory and that his name had been accordingly 
entered on the church books. He had been elected 
Deacon on August 26th vice Lawrence resigned, sub- 
ject to the obtaining of this certificate from the " Church 
in town." He served in this capacity until Dec. i, 
1830, when a new Consistory was elected. The city 
Directory gives his address in 18 19 as 9 Cheapside. 
The Astens were not blessed with children, and their 
work in the Lord's vineyard was unhampered by ties 
of blood. Mrs. Asten's gift is still bringing forth 







\^ 




I f^ 



Hmong ©IMime ]famlHe6 357 

fruit and her memory will remain as long as an edifice 
stands to bear on its walls her memorial. 

The Varians are represented to a considerable extent. 
The origin of the family is uncertain. It has been 
suggested that they were Huguenots who emigrated 
to Holland at the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes 
in 1685. This expatriation is the more likely because 
of the Dutch affiliations formed in New York by the 
immigrant and his descendants. The first of the 
name found in this city was Isaac, who figures in the 
Directory of 1720 and who was admitted a freeman 
January 23, 1733. In 1737-8, he was a member of the 
military company commanded by Capt. Cornelius van 
Home. A negro named Worcester belonging to him 
was implicated in the " Great Negro Plot" in 1741 and 
was transported for that crime. Varian m. in the 
Dutch church, Aug. 12, 1733, Elizabeth, dau. of Daniel 
de Vouw, and had five children. The youngest, Isaac, 
b. Sept. 8, 1740, purchased two extensive farms front- 
ing on the Bloomingdale Road, one extending from 
17th to 2ist Street, adjoining the Horn Tract on the 
south, which composed the ten-acre gift of the city 
to Sir Peter Warren, and another bounded south 
by the northerly line of the Horn property, with 
present 26th Street for a southerly delimitation, 
all of which he cultivated as farming land. On 
this latter plot, just north of this street, on the westerly 
side of the road, he built the family homestead which 
remained such a conspicuous landmark for many years. 
He m. (i) Hannah van den Berg, (2) Aletta Harsen, and 
(3) Jane Betts, who became the respective mothers 
of sixteen children. Isaac, the eldest son of the first 
alliance, m., June 20, 1791, Tamar Leggett of West 
Farms. Of the nine children born of this union three 



358 zbc Tlew IJorft of ^cetcvt>^^ 

were baptized by Dr. Gunn, viz. Gilbert Coutant, 
George Washington, and Emeline Coutant. The first 
was named in honor of the husband of his great-aunt 
Mary Varian, who became the wife of Gilbert Coutant 
April 26, 1789. He came of the well-known Huguenot 
family of which the histories of Westchester County 
speak at length. George Washington lived and died 
on the paternal farm. He was a Councilman in 1854, 
Alderman in 1855, and member of Assembly i860. He 
is described about this latter date as being an old- 
school Democrat and a genuine Knickerbocker in 
appearance. He was stout of form, with bushy gray 
hair and whiskers, and exceedingly vigorous. Bom to 
a competence, he never had other occupation than 
aiding in the care of the family realty, that rapidly 
developed in value as the city extended. In private 
life he was just, courteous, full of good humor, and 
greatly attached to home and family. Emeline joined 
the church Nov. 5, 1830, and m. Laurence Pell Jor- 
dan, Jan. 4, 1837. 

Isaac Leggett Varian, another son of Isaac, acquired 
fame in politics. Among the various offices he held 
were member of Assembly 183 1-4, Alderman 1833-5 
and 1836, President of the Board 1835-6, Mayor 1839 
to 1840, State Senator 1842, and School Commissioner 
1842-3. His portrait adorns the walls of the Governor ' s 
Room in the City Hall. He was a rugged and popular 
man of sterling honesty and integrity. He had a pew in 
the church and was married by Dr. Gunn to Catherine 
Hopper Dusenberry, granddaughter of Andrew Hopper, 
July 25, 181 1. They had issue baptized there, to wit: 

Andrew Hopper. He was bap. at the homestead of his 
gt. -grandfather and namesake, where he d. May 
4, 1826. Buried in the Hopper plot. 




cfi<^^z£ ^^^ 



Portrait and signature of the Hon. Isaac L. Varian, Mayor of New York 
City. From the original by Inman in tlie New York City Hall 



among ©IMlme ifamilies 359 

Tamar Letitia. 

Isaac. 

Matilda Campbell. 

Mary Elizabeth. 

Isaac II. 

In 1845, Mayor Varian removed to Peekskill and there 
he died Aug. lo, 1864, in his seventy-fifth year. His 
brother William was married by Dr. Gunn to Susan 
Cornell, Dec. 22, 181 9, and resided for many years in 
the building yet standing on the portion of the farm 
he inherited on Sixth Avenue just south of 28th 
Street, formerly known as the Knickerbocker Cottage 
and now occupied by Mouquin. Their children were 
baptized by the minister, viz. Mary Ward, Letitia 
Stevens, and William Henry. He removed to West- 
chester, where he bought land one mile from the village 
on the road to Fordham, and died Dec. 3, 1863, having 
had fourteen children. Another brother, Richard, b. 
in 1804, lived in the homestead, which he inherited, 
until its demolition, 1850-1, when he removed to 27 
West 26th Street, in which house he d. Dec. 18, 1864. 
He was also married by Dr. Gunn, Feb. i, 1829, to 
Maria Fulmer. A daughter of Isaac and Tamar Varian, 
Letitia, joined the membership on confession in Feb., 
182 1, at which time she was the wife of Thomas J. 
Stevens, who became in 1842 an executor of his father- 
in-law's will. These children were baptized by Dr. 
Gunn, viz. Isaac Varian, Thomas George, John Jacob, 
and Charles Bunner. Both she and her sister Emeline 
were granted letters to Brother Kip's church in 9th 
Street, they having followed the Domine from Bloom- 
ingdale to his new charge. 

The first marriage entered on the records was that 
of William B. Holmes of Haerlem and Hannah Stanton, 



360 z\)c IRew IJork of l^eeterbai? 

who were joined Oct. 22, 1808, in presence of Jacob 
Harsen and Thomas Ash. She became a member May 
2, 1822, and he Aug. 5, 1842. Removing to Blooming- 
dale they lived in a house which stood on the east side 
of the Road between 71st and 72nd Streets, just north 
of the Harsenville road, and is located by name on the 
Commissioner's map. All the children were bom there 
and all but one, Eldridge, baptized by the minister. 
Their names follow: 

Nathaniel William, d. young. 

George Washington, m. Martha, dau. of Martha 
Wilson Beard. 

Augusta Maria, m. by Domine van Aken, Jan. 8, 1833, 
to Eldridge H. Brooks; he also baptized William 
Holmes and James, their children. She joined 
the church Aug. 5, 1842; he d. 1857. 

Ann Agnes, m. by the Domine, Oct. i, 1837, to William 
Fiske Dana of Watertown (near Boston), Mass. 
In 1856 they removed to New York . She became 
a member May 5, 1848. 

Mary Eliza. 

Hannah Stanton, m. Kindred Howard, Oct. 25, 1847, 
at the church and these children were baptized 
by the Domine: Ellen Augusta, Charles Henry, 
and Elizabeth Tippell, all on May 19, 1856. The 
mother joined Aug. 2d of that year. 

Charles Darke, m. to Mary Smith by the Domine 
Feb. 9, 1852. 

Nathaniel, m. to Rebecca Beard, dau. of Martha 
Wilson Beard and sister of Martha, by the 
Domine Jan. 25, 1847. Their children Rebecca 
and Sarah Martha were baptized by him. Their 
married life extended over fifty-eight years. 
He died at No. 831 De Kalb Avenue, Brook- 
lyn. 



among ©Ib^^tlme ifamUlce 361 

Eldridge. All of the above but Mrs. Dana and Eldridge 
are dead. 

Mr. Holmes had two brothers. The wife of George, 
Deborah, joined the communion Feb. 4, 1842, and 
William Holmes was m. by the minister May 6, 1831, to 
Eliza Ann Morgan. Their daughter Kate m. William 
Kelly June 13, 1854, and joined April 30, 1858, at the 
same time Jane, another daughter, was baptized. 
Elizabeth, a sister of William B. Holmes, became a 
member Aug. 5, 1853. She was the widow of Richard 
Darke, whom she married June 9, 1818. William B. 
Holmes, Sr., died 1845. 

The Kellys did not settle in Bloomingdale until 1857, 
when the father of said William bought ten lots at 
present 75th Street, just west of the Road. In front 
of it stood the old Dutch habitation of the Somer- 
indycks, which was destroyed in 1868, its site being 
required for the opening of the Boulevard. A wedge 
shaped strip fronting 14 feet on the street and 65 feet 
on the new thoroughfare, which remained after the land 
needed had been taken, was purchased by him, thereby 
placing his property on the corner of the two streets. 
The homestead which he built was a large white square 
house, with green blinds and old-fashioned porches. 
It was quite a noted spot in the village, and when the 
Somerindyck mansion was torn down, the view of it 
from down- town was imobstructed. The N.Y. Herald 
of May 1 , 1 900, says that the family were very hospitable 
and adds that: 

Every Fourth of July there was a lawn party, when tea was 
served out of doors, and dancing under lanterns was indulged 
in, to wind up with an eleven-o'clock supper. In winter 
there were many parties in the mansion. Many gray-haired 



362 Zhc 1Rew l?orfi of 13e6ter^a^ 

New Yorkers will recall with pleasure the drives out the 
Bloomingdale Road and the dances at the Kelly home. 
There is a touch of the ghostly about the old place, too. 
The site was part of one of the old burghers' farms in colo- 
nial days. During the Revolution part of it was made a 
burying ground for the Hessians killed in the battle of Har- 
lem Heights. When Mr. Kelly built his barn in 1859 he dug 
up a whole box of Hessian bones and buried them again. 
Then there was the strange apple-tree back of the house. It 
was standing there in 1857. It bloomed out of season one 
fall — a single branch of it — and a few days later Kelly's 
youngest son was suddenly taken ill and died. It did this 
again early in the winter of 1879-80 and in January Kelly 
himself died. A few weeks later there was a heavy snow- 
storm and the tree toppled over and died. 

The old home is only a memory nov^. Workmen 
began to tear it dov^n in the spring of 1889 — about the 
last of the Bloomingdale mansions. John Jacob Astor 
bought the place in 1884, but Mrs. Kelly remained there 
until the last. A modern fourteen-story apartment- 
house now occupies the site. The widow of Henry 
Kelly became a member of the Church in August, 
1866. William Kelly was approached in 1859 and 
again in 1862 to ascertain if he would serve as Dea 
con, but both times declined. 

John Parks came to Bloomingdale in 182 1. We do 
not know where he resided there. He joined the 
membership, Aug. 2, 1822, was elected Deacon Dec. i, 
1830, and became an Elder Aug. 11, 1835, to fill the 
place made vacant by Elder Harsen's death. The 
Consistory met at his house for the first time September 
2d, He was the delegate to Classis in March, 1837. 
In October it was announced that he was ill, and at the 
next session that he had died. Isabella Hamilton, 



among ©IMlme ffamlHes 3^3 

who had a child baptized by Dr. Gunn in 1822, united 
Feb. 2, 1838, and d. Feb. 19, 1868, is thought to have 
been his sister. Deborah Ann Parks, his daughter, 
was m. by Domine van Aken to George Findley in 1856. 
She became a member April 30, 1858, and d. Jan. 26, 
1867. 

It is interesting to sift the derivation of names. For 
instance the name Quackenbush. Translated it means 
"shaking wood," in the sense of a forest, originally 
Kwakkenbosch. The word beginning with Q is the 
Latin form. The name went through numerous 
spellings until in New York Quackenbos and Quacken- 
bush became the accepted methods. Pieter Quakken- 
bos, the common ancestor, came from Oestgeest, 
Holland, to New Amsterdam and removed to Beverwijk 
(Albany) . He had twelve children. The eldest, Rynier, 
b. in Holland, m. (i), March 2, 1674, Lysbet Jans 
Masten of Flushing, L. I., bap. June 3, 1657, N. Y., dau. 
of Jan Mast or Masten; m. (2) Sept. 13, 1692, Claasje 
Jacobs Stille, bap. Feb. 11, 1672, dau. of Jacob Cornells 
Stille and Aaltje Fredericks from Brasiel (Brazil). 
Rynier removed from Albany to New York circa 1691 
and became the ancestor of the Manhattan family. To 
this branch belonged James Quackenbush who, with 
his wife, Margaret Fake (widow Romeyn), connected 
himself with the Church on Oct. 30, 1823. He was 
elected Deacon Aug. 2, 1824, in place of Ichabod Prall. 
The Consistory, in customary rotation, met at his 
residence on Nov. 8, and thereafter on many occasions. 
He was chosen Elder Dec. i, 1830. In 1837, his 
health, because of advancing years, began to break 
and at the session of July 16, 1840, held at his house, 
he resigned, thus terminating a period of sixteen years 
as an officer. He d. Jan. 17, 1842, aged eighty-three 



364 ^be 1Rew l?ork of IJeeterba^ 

years and four months. Margaret Fake, and others 
of this name in the records, were doubtless descendants 
of three brothers Robert, Henry, and Tobias, the sons 
of James Feake of London, b. 1622, who were early 
emigrants to New England. Tobias of Flushing L. L, 
was Schout-Fiscaal under the Dutch government. 
Robert also came to New Amsterdam, and had child- 
ren baptized in the Dutch Church, 1642-7. Margaret 
Fake (Romeyn) Quackenbush d. Sept. 2, 1851, aged 
about eighty-one. 

Maria Quackenbush was m. by Dr. Gunn in 181 3 to 
Samuel van Orden. He was the grandson of Peter 
van Orden and Antje Willemse (Williams), whom he m. 
Sept. 24, 1726, and was baptized in the original Dutch 
Church, Oct. 15, 1746. Said Peter owned a farm of 31 
acres extending from 31st to 34th Streets from about 
350 feet east of Broadway to about 500 feet west of 
Sixth Avenue. This he devised at his death, 1769, 
to his four sons Wessell, John, William, and Samuel. 
The entire property was owned eventually by the latter, 
who d. in 1797 leaving a will whereby three acres of the 
farm were' bequeathed to his son Samuel, he who was 
married ini8i3. In 1827, when he sold it for $6000, 
he signed his name van Norden, and in the convey- 
ance calls attention to the fact that it came to him 
under the former spelling. 

William Burnham, the jovial proprietor of the vil- 
lage tavern, and his wife Eliza Beck became members 
on confession Jan. 30, 1823. Dr. Gunn baptized these 
of their children: James Carlton, Mary Louise, Charles, 
Julia Maria, Harriet Newell, and Cordelia Matilda. 
Because of inhibition from the communion table, in 
that he persisted in keeping the tavern "open" on the 
Sabbath, he transferred his allegiance, and when he 



among ©IMime famillee 365 

died, March 3, 1850, in his seventy-first year his remains 
were deposited on the 5 th in the public vault in St. 
Michael's churchyard. His wife died Aug, 22, aged 67, 
and was placed beside him two days later. Of the sons 
James C. ("Col. Jim," as he was familiarly known) 
was the last survivor. He was commissioned Lieut. 
Col. Sept. 27, 1847, and after an honorable career as 
commander of the N. Y. Volunteers in the Mexican 
War he was taken off while yet a young man by disease 
contracted in the service. He never married. His 
sister Harriet m. in 1842 Frederick Lyman Talcott, who 
after an experience in mercantile business with his 
father, Noah Talcott, established in 1858 the banking 
house of Talcott & Sons, the junior partners being 
Frederick L., Jr., and August Belmont Talcott. Wil- 
liam Burnham's sister Ann m. Lawrence van Buskirk. 
Three of their children were baptized Sept. 30, 1831, by 
Dr. Gunn; viz. Caroline, Sylvester Swift, and William 
Lawrence. Sylvester S. m. Sarah Josephine Gassner 
and had a child Virginia Talcott, who was baptized by 
Domine van Aken. Daniel Gassner, her father, came 
to Bloomingdale in 1828, when he bought the Samuel 
A. Lawrence property. Somerindyck Lane, which led 
to it, took the names of Lawrence and Gassner suc- 
cessively after the different owners. He was a witness 
at the marriage of his daughter Jane Elizabeth to 
William G. Tompkins July 2, 1847, ^^ which the minis- 
ter officiated and baptized their children on Dec. 20, 
1854, to wit, Emily Louise and Charlotte Pride Tomp- 
kins. Daniel Gassner d. in 1854, leaving his realty to 
his eight children. 

Domine van Aken m, his son John A. to Helen, 
daughter of Matthew Kyle, a Scotchman, and baptized 
two of their children, viz. John Weyman and Susan 



366 ^be IRew 13orR of l^eeterbai? 

Cornelia, 1854. Kyle had sons William and Matthew. 
Another son of Daniel Gassner was Matthew. Peter 
Gassner was a brother of Daniel. He was a grocer. 
His daughter Elizabeth C. Gassner d. at Lake Mohegan, 
Westchester Co., N. Y. July 31, 1907. Isabella B. 
Gassner m. John Weyman and had a child baptized 
at St. Michael's 1853. 

Rachel Westerfield joined on confession Feb. i, 1827, 
and her husband Cornelius Feb. 2, 1828. They had 
been m. by Dr. Gunn Dec. 7, 1822, who also baptized 
these children, viz. : Catherine Jane, m. Apr. 26, 1843, 
John Waite, d. Sept. 16, 1859; William Edwin; 
Rachel; Mary Elizabeth, d. Oct. 14, 1841, intestate and 
unm. ; Emma Delia. By the will of Jane Cozine Acker- 
man, dated March 2, 1837, said Rachel Westerfield, her 
daughter, was bequeathed all testatrix's lands in 
Bloomingdale, a portion of the Cozine Farm, for and 
during her life. Immediately after her death said 
property was to vest in the above grandchildren, 
share and share alike. To the eldest, Catherine Jane, 
was bequeathed the place on which her grandmother 
resided, fronting on the Bloomingdale Road, to her and 
her heirs forever. Certain portions of said life estate 
Rachel Westerfield conveyed to her two infant children, 
Emma D. and Rachel Westerfield, in 1842, which prop- 
erty was partitioned and sold at their petition three 
years later. The mother d. Sept. 11, 1842, aged 45 
years and 2 mos., leaving her husband Cornelius and 
all the above-named children, at which time only the 
elder had married. She had George W. and Anna 
Frances Waite. The daughter Rachel m. William M. 
Day in 1 8 5 5 . Cornelius Westerfield was elected Deacon 
June 21, 1838, was appointed Treasurer Oct. 23, and 
Clerk of Consistory Feb. 14, 1839. He became Elder 



among ®I^*«t!me jfamllles 367 

July 16, 1840. At the same session John Waite, a 
child of the Church, who was to become his son-in-law, 
was elected Deacon and Treasurer in his stead. The 
August meeting was held at Waite's house. Both were 
re-elected to their respective offices on July 25, 1842. 
Mr. Westerfield resigned both as Elder and Clerk and 
Waite as Treasurer Nov. 29, 1843. The latter served 
for a month or so thereafter as Deacon. He was the 
son of William Waite and Margaret, the dau. of Dea- 
con Webbers, who were m. by Dr. Gunn Feb. 23, 
1809. 

Robert Carss joined the communion in April, 1829, 
He was m. by Domine van Aken Feb. 15, 1852, to 
Joanna Gordon and was elected Deacon Jan. 13, 1858, 
which position he filled until chosen Elder Feb. i, 1861. 
He d. in office July 13, 1869. His brother John m. (i) 
Catherine dau. of Thomas J. Emmons the Elder and (2) 
Marion Bissland, a teacher in the Orphan Asylum, in 
1857, she having been baptized May 5, 1850. Two of 
their children, John Bissland and Mary Catherine Carss, 
were baptized by the minister. 

Domine Francis Marschalk Kip was called as a suc- 
cessor to the lamented Dr. Gunn, July 8, 1830. He 
came from one of the oldest families of New Amster- 
dam and his descent was as follows : 

1. Isaac, m. (i) Catalina Hendricks de Suyers, Feb. 

8, 1653. 

2. Jacobus, b. Aug. 25, 1666, d. Feb. 28, 1753; m. 

(2) Rachel Swarthout, 1695. 

3. Isaac, d. July 2, 1762; m. Jan. 7, 1720, Cornelia, 

dau. Leonard Lewis, Alderman, New York city. 

4. Leonard, b. 1725, d. 1804; m., 1763, Elizabeth, dau. 

Francis Marschalk of New York city. 

5. Isaac Lewis, b. 1767, d. 1837; m. Sarah Smith of 



3^^ Zl)c mew 13orli of Iffeeterbai? 

Elizabethtown, N. J., who were the parents of 
the Domine. 

From the N. Y. Genealogical and Biographical Record 
of Jan., 1889, p. 12, these additional facts are gleaned: 
Dr. Kip was the youngest son of Isaac L. Kip, a law 
partner of the Hon. Brockholst Livingston, Assistant 
Register of the Court of Chancery and from 1 8 1 7 to the 
day of his death (Jan. 20, 1837) Treasurer of the Cor- 
poration of the Collegiate Church, of which he became 
President in 1830. The son's educational advantages 
were of the highest order. After graduation at Colum- 
bia College he entered his father's office, where he 
pursued the study of law for two years, when impelled 
by religious motives he entered the Theological Semi- 
nary, was licensed by the Classis of New York April 21, 
1830, and ordained Aug. 8, in the Church at Harsen- 
ville. The following year he was transferred by the 
Classis to the mission in East 9th Street, on the present 
site of the Wanamaker store. His success was so great 
that from this mission grew the organization which 
erected the House of Worship a.t the corner of 4th 
Street and Lafayette Place. Mr. Kip now received 
several calls and decided in favor of the old historic 
stone church at Fishkill, where he was installed Nov. 8, 
1836. This was the church of his love. A ministry 
of 35 years followed, almost romantic in its faithf illness, 
usefulness, and beauty. His long pastorate included 
the most eventful period of our national history and on 
all questions involving virtue or vice, patriotism or 
disloyalty, right or wrong, this pulpit was never silent; 
its trumpet blew no uncertain sound, yet its utterances 
were so fortified and tempered by so wise an admixture 
of sterling integrity and affection that prejudice was 
disarmed and all strife prevented. His sermons were 



Hmona ©IMlme jfamlliee 369 

always the result of deep thought and careful study. 
His Sabbath ministrations were full of the Cross. He 
loved the ministry with an intensity of devotion and 
he was beloved by his people with a fervency rarely 
accorded to any one individual. His memory will 
ever be regarded as a benediction to both the church 
and the place. In 1854 Dr. Kip visited Europe, where 
his letters of introduction enabled him to be enter- 
tained by men of eminence. This journey was ever a 
source of pleasure during the remainder of his life. In 
1857 he was President of the General Synod at Utica 
and the same year received the degree of D.D, from 
Columbia. In i860 he was elected trustee of Rutgers 
College. Early in the decade of the seventies Dr. Kip 
resigned at Fishkill and soon accepted the pastorate 
of the united Churches of Richmond and Huguenot, 
Staten Island, and was appointed chaplain of the 
Seaman's Retreat, then under charge of the State 
Legislature. He resigned his Staten Island charge 
in 1 88 1 to officiate as chaplain of the city institutions 
on Ward's and Randall's Islands. Early in 1883 the 
American Seaman's Friend Society appointed Dr. 
Kip their chaplain and this was the closing work of 
his long life. Here he was diligent and faithful in his 
service and exceedingly popular in the institutions 
with officers, physicians, nurses, and patients. He was 
taken ill while on duty, resigned May i, and died the 
28th of that month. 

Dr Kip was a man of many attainments, well versed 
in the ancient languages — Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. 
In his seventieth year he was appointed examiner in 
the latter tongue by the Classis of New York because 
of superior accomplishments. A theologian and histo- 
rian of parts, he delighted in antiquarian research. 



3 70 Zhc IRew I3ork of ^CBtcvbav, 

His reminiscenses of his native city were exceedingly 
entertaining and amusing. He m. Mary Rogers, 
daughter of James Ashton Bayard and granddaughter 
of Col. Bayard, all of the historic Delaware family. 
She was also a granddaughter of the Rev. John Rod- 
gers, D.D., first pastor of the Wall Street Presbyterian 
Church. She was the first accession to membership 
during her husband's tenure at Bloomingdale, bear- 
ing a letter from the 8th Presbyterian Church. 

The Bayards are descended from Samuel Bayard 
and Anne, the stately sister of Gov. Stuyvesant. The 
latter, a widow, accompanied her brother to New 
Amsterdam in 1647, bringing with her her three sons. 
The Delaware family came from Petrus Bayard, 
sometime Deacon of the Dutch Church at New Amster- 
dam, who removed to Bombay Hoeck, an island of 600 
acres in the South River which Gov. Andros granted 
him in 1675. The Rev. Dr. Rodgers, then pastor of St. 
George's Presbyterian Church in Delaware and an 
intimate friend and confidential adviser of Gen. Wash- 
ington, m, Elizabeth, the daughter of Col. Peter 
Bayard, son of Samuel and grandson of Petrus, and it 
was his daughter Eliza who m. James A. Bayard, the 
son of Col, John, of the Penn. Committee of Safety, 
a great grandson of Petrus. He was the father of Mrs. 
Kip and of James A. Bayard, the distinguished states- 
man who was U. S. Commissioner to Ghent. For this 
service he was appointed to succeed John Quincy 
Adams at St. Petersburg, but was seized with an 
alarming illness and hastened home to die. Col. John 
Bayard removed from Philadelphia to New Brunswick 
after the war, where he became a presiding judge, 
trustee of Rutgers College, and in 1790 Mayor of that 
city. He d. Jan. 7, 1807, in his 69th year, and his 




o 2 



Hmona ®I^*'tlme jfamillee 371 

remains were interred in the churchyard of the first 
Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Kip d. before the Dom- 
ine and two sons and three daughters survived 
them. 

Stephen N. Bayard was a subscriber and a pew- 
holder in the second House of Worship. He m. Mary, 
sister of Abraham K, Beekman, who survived her 
husband and d. Dec. 2, 1831, intestate and without 
issue. Bayard was much interested in the introduc- 
tion of canals in New York, -and one of his early trips 
into the interior of the State took place in 1791, when 
he was accompanied by Jeremiah van Rensselaer, 
Gen. Philip van Cortlandt, and Elkanah Watson, with 
the object of scrutinizing opinions on the subject of 
inland navigation. Watson was a projector of the 
canal system and of agricultural societies. In 1814 
Bayard had an office at 69 Pearl Street and a residence 
on the Bowery at the Two-Mile Stone. 

Frederick Christian Havemeyer had previously 
attended divine service, but it is not known that he 
owned a pew before 1831. He lived at present Colum- 
bus Circle, having acquired in 181 7 for $2100 blocks 
Nos. 23 and 24, which had been set off to Hyder Somer- 
indyck in partition. This land lay between 57th and 
59th Streets from Broadway to Ninth Ave. and thereon 
he built his mansion. He and his brother William 
came from Germany in 1799 and were the ances- 
tors of the two branches of the family in New York. 
They founded the firm of Wm. and F. C. Havemeyer, 
which engaged in sugar-refining there in 1807, in Van- 
dam St., in which year the son of the junior partner, 
bearing his father's name, was bom, and became the 
father of Henry Osborne Havemeyer. F. C. Have- 
meyer, Sr., d. intestate Sept. 20, 1841, leaving him sur- 



372 Zbc l^ew 13ork of l^eeter^ai? 

viving his widow Catherine and these children who 
were communicants, viz. : 

Frederick C. Havemeyer, Jr., who after spending two 
years at Columbia College entered the paternal es- 
tablishment as an apprentice. In 1828 he became 
associated with his cousin William in the firm under 
the original style, and after the death of his father 
undertook the management of the latter's large estate. 
For some years he travelled thereafter, when he again 
entered business and in 1855 organized the firm of 
Havemeyer, Townsend & Co., which later became 
Havemeyer & Elder. In 183 1 he m. Sarah Osborne, 
daughter of Christopher Townsend, one of his business 
associates. 

Charlotte, wife of William I. Eyer. 

Catherine E., wife of Warren Harriot. The name 

Harriot appears in the church records. 
Susanna W., wife of Henry Senft. 
Mary R., who intermarried with John I. Northrop 

in Feb., 1850. 
Charles H., had a wife Mary. 
Diederich M., had a wife Mary. 
George L., had a wife Eliza. 
Edward A., had a wife Sophia S. and d. s. p. April 2, 

1853- 

Certain lots of their father's realty purchase were 
sold as the result of a partition suit commenced in the 
Supreme Court Dec. 13, 1852. The Mansion was used 
as a home for soldiers' children during the Civil War. 

Thomas J. Emmons had been m. by Dr. Gunn May 
15, 1824, to Maria Shurtliff, and holds the palm for 
service, which extended over a period of forty-three 
years. His name appears first as a member in Oct., 
1832, when he and his second wife, Emily Lindeman, 



amono ©IMIme jfamllies 373 

joined the communion on confession. He was elected 
Deacon Jan. 21, 1838, and became Treasurer Nov. 29, 
1843. In 1854 (Jan. 25) he was raised to the eldership; 
represented Consistory at Classis April 18, for the first 
time, and was appointed Clerk July 23, i860. As 
Treasurer he was deputized to invest the proceeds 
of the sale of the original church lot the following 
month. The Board had met at his house desultorily, 
but beginning in 1868 it assembled there (No. 245 
West 20th St.) regularly for fully two years, during 
which time the second House of Worship had been 
removed and the new Chapel opened for service. By 
his first wife, Maria, Mr. Emmons became the father 
of six children, viz: 

William Thomas, 

Mary Catherine, 

Horatio, were baptized by Dr. Gunn. 

Maria; as she was ill the baptism was privately per- 
formed by Domine Kip in 1830. 

Edward Augustus, bap. by Domine van Aken in 1836. 

Mary, bap. by Domine van Aken in 1838, the mother 
having died March 2d of that year. 

The wife of Domine van Aken, Eliza W. Gulick, was 
taken into the fold Aug. 21, 1835, by certificate. On 
April 22, 1840, their son Gulick was born, and was 
baptized in September by John Knox, D.D. At the age 
of twenty- three he was m. by his father to Elizabeth 
Jennett, daughter of Capt. James and Jennett (Bogert) 
Kearny, in the presence of Archibald K. Kearny, 
Hamilton B. Holmes, and John Mc. Bogert. She 
was a descendant of John W. Kearny, who m. Anne 
daughter of Robert and Lady Mary (Alexander) 
Watts and d. in New York city Friday, May 24, 1907. 
Funeral services were held at Grace Dutch Reformed 



374 Zbe Bew IJorft ot IJeaterba^ 

Church, 7th Ave, and 54th St., on the 27th at 11 a.m. 
Her husband joined the communion Feb. 6, 1856, 
served as assistant minister to his father for a time, 
was dismissed to the 23d St. Presbyterian Church in 
1864, and d. Oct. 20, 1872. They had no issue. The 
Domine's brother John had two children baptized, 
according to the records : Alexander Gulick and Enoch. 
The former, when his uncle became incapacitated, was 
called in 1881 as associate pastor. Enoch m. Mary 
Farr Nov. 27, 1877, and his children, Enoch Chester 
and Harold, were baptized by the Domine. 

The original owners of the territory which so largely 
composed Harsenville began to figure in the church 
history at an early period. James C. Somerindyke 
was m. by Dr. Gunn in 181 7 and Mary Tates, his wife, 
became a member Aug. 4, 1837. On the same date 
a number of their children were baptized by Do. van 
Aken, viz. : Martha Elizabeth, Caroline, William Henry, 
Charles Lallemand and Whitfield Skellom. Their 
first child, George, had been baptized in 18 18 by Dr. 
Gunn. Domine van Aken married Caroline Somerin- 
dyke in 1850 to Thomas Shepherd and baptized her son 
Thomas Franklin in 1854. Cornelia Somerindyke of 
Haerlem, the wife of Arthur McCarter, joined the 
communion Nov. 14, 1835, and her husband followed 
her example Feb. 3, 1837. George W. Somerindyck, 
son of John Somerindike (in all of which ways the 
family name was spelled), the settler at Bloomingdale, 
joined May i, 1840. He was the only one of his father's 
line who became connected with the church. The- 
ophilus Hardenbrook, whose brother William A. was 
the husband of George W.'s sister Margaret, was m. 
by Dr. Gunn. Another family who had large landed 
interests in the neighborhood, the Dyckmans, had 



Hmona ©IMime jfamlliee 375 

removed from Bloomingdale prior to the fotmding of 
the Church. 

The Leggetts were a branch of the noted West- 
chester family. Isaac Leggett of Bloomingdale m. 
Barbara, a daughter of Charles and Catherine Kelly, 
whose farm adjoined the Webbers tract on the south. 
This was a part of Wolfert Webbers' s land mentioned 
in the chapter "The First Consistory, " which Deacon 
Webbers sold to said Kelly in 1792. Catherine Kelly, 
the wife, d. July 3, 1800, leaving her husband and these 
children : Catherine Feitner, Barbara Leggett, and Mary, 
wife of Francis Child, Jr. Charles Kelly divided the 
tract vested in him into six lots, three fronting on 
the Bloomingdale Road and three on Verdant Lane, 
later Leggett or Feitner Lane. Two of these lots he 
conveyed to each of his three daughters above named. 
That to Barbara Leggett was dated 1798. John H. 
Dusenberry purchased a portion of it in 1825 (he had 
been m. to Sarah Leggett in 1818 by Dr. Gunn) and 
the balance was sold to David S. Brown in 1833. Mrs. 
Leggett joined the organization in 1840 and d. March 
29, 1841, a widow, her husband having passed from 
earth during the previous year. Their children had 
been baptized by Dr. Gunn, to wit: John William, 
Kelly, Mary Ann, Jane, William Varian, Barbary Ann, 
Henrietta, and Tamar Varian. The Varian connection 
will be noted. Mayor Varian 's mother being a Leggett 
of West Farms. Do. van Aken m. the above-men- 
tioned Tamar Varian Leggett to Charles Wilmott, both 
of Bloomingdale, in 1841. 

Catharine Feitner received a deed of her portion in 
November, 1802. Her husband Francis Feitner, d. Jan. 
4, 1833, and she Oct. 19, 1834. She left her sons Peter 
and Charles executors. Besides these elder children 



376 Zbc IRcw IJorti of l?e0terbai? 

there were Elizabeth, wife of Balaam Ackerman, Fran- 
cis, Jr., George, Hannah wife of John Cornish, Daniel, 
and Catherine Ann. Domine van Aken m. Daniel, 
1838, to Mahala Clinn and their daughter Mary Cathe- 
rine to Lawrence Deyo of Shawangunk, N. Y., 1864. 
The Feitners were of German ancestry. Of the sons 
John had a wife Hannah, and George Elsey, in 1835. 

There were two Wilson families in Harsenville. The 
one of which we ken is that of Jotham who came from 
New London,, Conn, in his "teens." He m., 1827, 
Sarah, the daughter of Richard Darke, who was bap- 
tized by Dr. Gunn in 181 5. In the Governor's room 
at City Hall hangs a copy of the Declaration of In- 
dependence in Mr. Wilson's handwriting, dedicated to 
the N. Y. Public School Society. His wife was bom 
on the present triangle lying between 72nd and 74th 
Streets, Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue, before 
the streets were opened. Wilson lived at 64th St. and 
the Bloomingdale Road and here all his children but 
one were born. It took two pews to accommodate 
his numerous progeny. Being a Baptist, none of 
the family were baptized by the minister and none 
became members. The names of the twelve children 
were Jotham, Jr., Richard, Monmouth, John b. in N. J., 
Maria, George, Emma, Charles, Elizabeth, Jacob, 
William, and Kate. Maria was m. by Do. van Aken in 
1862 to Isaac D. Blake, a native of Boston, Mass., 
resident in New York. Her brother George has been 
for many years the genial Secretary of the N. Y. 
Chamber of Commerce. Monmouth Wilson was at 
one time a Fire Commissioner. 

The Darkes were English and were never naturalized. 
Besides Sarah Wilson, who was the eldest of the family, 
Richard Darke and Maria his wife had Henry and Maria, 





,- ^f PMatiahPerit Esq., 20th President of the Chamber 
Portrait andsignatureofTelatiah lent, iisq., vrcrilman 

of Commerce; reproduced by courtesy of Mrs. \v . S. Gilman 



Hmono ©IMlme ffamiliee 377 

who were baptized by Dr. Gunn in 1815. Maria, the 
mother, died March 28, 1818, aged 37, and was buried 
in St. Michael's churchyard. Richard Darke, Jr., joined 
the communion Feb. 5, 181 9, and a number of his 
children were baptized at St. Michael's in 1834. He 
d. that year and his widow, Elizabeth Holmes, entered 
the fold at Harsenville in 1853, and d. Apr. 16, 1859. 
John Darke and Margery Moore had John Moore, bapt. 
183 1 by Domine Kip; Mary Thompson, bapt. 1832 by 
Rev. John AlBurtis; and Helen Maria, bapt. 1833 by 
Rev. Wm. Labagh. Domine van Aken bapt. five 
children of Charles Darke, Sr. and Temperance Rebecca 
Hay den, his wife, in 1840 and another in 1841, He 
married George Darke and Mary Isabella Martin in 
1 84 1 in presence of Charles Darke and William B. 
Holmes. His wife was the daughter of George Martin 
who d. in 1831. Hannah Smith, his widow, joined 
Aug. 5, 183 1, and was afterward the wife of James Ri- 
ker. Besides the daughter Mary Isabella he left a son 
Jonathan C. Martin. George Martin in 181 9 acquired 
a portion of the John Horn piece of the Hopper Farm 
which was partitioned in 1845, oi^^ of the commission- 
ers appointed for that purpose being Thomas Addis 
Emmet. 

The first mention the records make of Pelatiah Perit 
is in 1836, when he served on a special committee. He 
had that year purchased the Samuel Adams Lawrence 
property and moved into the Mansion with his second 
wife, Maria, the daughter of Daniel L, Coit of Norwich, 
who, for a short time, in the early part of the last 
century, was a merchant in New York of the firm of 
Howland & Coit. A Presbyterian by faith he took 
a pew at once and immediately entered into church 
work with enthusiasm. Then, at the age of fifty-one 



378 ^be mew IPork ot IJesterDai? 

and childless, his interest in the orphans, who attended 
services there, grew during his residence contiguous 
to the Asylum and led him to teach Sabbath-school 
both at the institution and the Church. He was a 
power both by inclination and in a financial way. The 
son of John Perit, a merchant and a descendant of one 
of the earlier ministers of the French Huguenot Church 
of New York city, he was bom at Norwich, Conn., his 
mother being a daughter of Pelatiah Webster, a Yale 
graduate of 1746 and a merchant in Philadelphia dur- 
ing the latter part of the XVI H century. Young Perit 
entered Yale at the age of thirteen (1798) and graduated 
four years later. He came under strong religious in- 
fluences while a student and at the close of his course 
expected to study for the ministry. This purpose 
had to be abandoned because of the partial failure of 
his health. In his nineteenth year he became a clerk 
in an importing house in Philadelphia, in the interest 
of which he made several voyages to the West Indies 
and South America. He used to describe the pleasure 
he experienced while escorting Alexander von Hum- 
boldt about the city on the explorer's arrival from Mex- 
ico, who came with introductions to the house where 
he was employed. In 1809 he removed to New York 
city and formed with a kinsman the firm of Perit & 
Lathrop. This partnership did not long survive, and 
Mr. Perit entered the house of Goodhue & Co., with 
which he remained connected until his retirement from 
business. This famous Quaker firm had an unsur- 
passed reputation in the shipping and commercial 
trade with merchants in widely distant countries, and 
had confidential relations with houses of distinction 
throughout the world. Mr. Goodhue had a country- 
seat in Bloomingdale Village as early as 1824. Its 



among ©IMime ifamillee 379 

exact location has not yet been fixed. Mr. Perit's name 
never appeared in the title of the firm, but his connec- 
tion with it was well known. The part he had in con- 
ducting its wide correspondence kept him interested 
in the commercial progress of every country and led to 
the maintenance of a wide acquaintance in different 
parts of the globe. His business life developed an- 
other element of his character — an earnest interest in 
religious and philanthropic enterprises and particularly 
in everything which pertained to the advancement of 
Christian missions and the welfare of seamen. A mere 
enumeration of the unpaid positions to which he was 
called and to which he devoted a great deal of time 
would show how varied and how consistent were his 
labors for the good of his fellow-men. At different 
times he was President of the American Seaman's 
Friend Society, a trustee of the Sailors' Snug Harbor, 
and President of the Seamen's Bank for Savings. He 
was director, likewise, of many of the missionary and 
benevolent societies to which the Presbyterian Church 
gave its support. For forty years he was an officer 
of the American Bible Society, either as manager or 
vice-president. His one political office was in 1857, 
when the peace of the city was seriously endangered 
by a contest between the "Municipal" and the "Metro- 
politan" police. Appointed a member of the Board 
of Police Commissioners his fairness and good sense 
were serviceable in the restoration of order. 

Mr. Perit served as twentieth President of the Cham- 
ber of Commerce, the influence of which was very 
marked during his term and especially in the early 
years of the Civil War. Two events which occurred 
at this time were very noteworthy and gave him an op- 
portunity to display his social abilities in a marked 



380 Zbc IRew 13ork of IJeeterba^ 

way, namely the reception of the Prince of Wales and 
that of the Japanese Embassy. His manners were 
reserved and dignified and his stature of nearly six feet 
and well-proportioned figure gave him a commanding 
presence when called on to preside at public meetings. 
He was a constant reader of reviews and historical 
and theological writings, but his chief title to fame is 
as a man of affairs, whose mind was inspired by an 
intelligent and systematic interest in the progress of 
mankind. He was a patriot who did much in leading 
the name and influence of his country to the support 
of the best ideas in religious, moral, political, diplo- 
matic and financial lines. The Calvinism of his Hugue- 
not ancestry and the financial bent of his grandfather 
were apparent in his long career. A few years before 
his death he began gradually to withdraw from business 
cares, and in 1859-60 sold his Bloomingdale property 
and built a house in New Haven, Conn. He died there 
March 8, 1864, but his widow survived for many years. 
In Hunt's Merchant's Magazine for April, 1864, can 
be found a commemorative discourse by Dr. Leonard 
Bacon. 

The original Presbyterian Church of Bloomingdale 
was organized in 1853 through the instrumentality of 
Mr. Perit. Some members of the Church at Harsen- 
ville and others who had been affiliated with the Presby- 
terian Church or whose early training and inclination 
leaned toward that denomination met together for 
the purpose, and the society then and there formed 
maintained at first religious meetings in the houses 
of members. The only communicant of the Dutch 
Church who withdrew with Mr. Perit, as far as we 
know, was Jane Somerville. She had a pew there and 
joined Oct. 30, 1840, during the tenure of Domine van 




< B < 






among ®lM!me jfamUles 381 

Aken. Her children were at this time connected with 
the newer church. A modest frame edifice was built a 
few years after the organization "in the fields" near 
84th St. and Eleventh (West End) Avenue. The 
approach was by way of present 85th Street, "across 
lots and around a little hill." The site was open on 
all sides and a view of the church was easily obtained 
from a distance. James Lenox assisted financially 
and otherwise in the enterprise, as did Dr. Patton, 
afterward of Princeton. The first pastor was I. S. 
Davison, D.D. Lewis C. Bayles was called March 12, 
1862, and installed April 23. His parents lived in a 
Gothic cottage which stood on the northwest comer 
of 79th Street and West End Avenue until very recent 
times. Mr. Bayles was obliged to seek health in Cali- 
fornia and died, a young man, at San Francisco of 
consumption, Aug. 15, 1864. The Rev. Anson P. 
Atterbury, D.D., who had been connected with the 
society for a year previously, succeeded to the pastor- 
ate April 20, 1880. It was largely through his efforts 
that the present beautiful building of the Park Pres- 
byterian Church, at 84th Street and Amsterdam 
Avenue, was erected. It may appropriately be called 
a child of the Bloomingdale Reformed Church. 

The records, in Domine van Aken's hand, say that 
Caspar Meier had ' 'communed here for many years, but 
never fully united with us till now," Aug. 3, 1838. He 
had been elected Elder, June 21st, and served until 
his decease. The Consistory, following the custom, met 
at his house on occasion, and he officiated for a time as 
Clerk. He came of families well known and distin- 
guished. The eldest son of Diedrick Meier, Senator and 
afterwards Burgomaster of the city of Bremen, and his 
wife, the daughter of Diedrick Smidt, Burgomaster, 



382 ^be Tlew Woth of l^esterbai? 

he was bom there Sept. 20, 1774. In his twenty- 
second year he took passage on the Olive, J. Hovey, 
Jr. , master, bound for New York, where he arrived Sept. 
7, 1796. In October, he obtained a situation with the 
house of Peppin & Satterthwait, merchants, at 87 
Water Street, which he left nine months thereafter to 
enter upon mercantile life on his own account. He 
now returned to Germany to seek connections with 
business houses there. In his diary he notes the 
day of his return, Oct. 12, 1798, as the date of his 
establishment as a merchant, with a store in Gouver- 
neur Lane, near Water Street. In 180 1, he married 
Eliza Catherine, daughter of the Rev. John Christo- 
pher Kunze, D.D., Pastor of the Lutheran Church, and 
granddaughter of the Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlen- 
berg, D.D., the patriarch of the Lutheran Church in 
America, and on Feb. 12, 1803, became a citizen. The 
following year he hired from the Fisher family their 
abode (the Somerindyck house at the Road and present 
75th Street) , where his eldest daughter was bom. This 
experience with Bloomingdale was so agreeable that in 
1807 he bought five acres on the river located between 
what came to be designated as i i8th and 1 19th Streets, 
and built a summer residence which in 18 12 became his 
permanent home. In 1823 he enlarged it to nearly 
twice the original size and later added a front gable in 
order to provide rooms for his two grandsons while 
on vacation. The arrangement of the grounds was 
formal according to the taste of the times; a lane led 
from the Bloomingdale Road gate in a straight line 
toward the front door, bordered by cherry trees and 
curved around a circle flanked by a hedge and flower 
garden. On either side of this lane were fenced pasture 
lots with borders of apple and pear trees, and a stable 





^<fjf ^'^%: '^e r 



re*t 



Portrait and signature of Caspar Meier, Esq., founder of Oelrichs & Co. 
from the original painting ia the Chamber of Commerce 



among ©Ib^-tlme jfamlllee 3^3 

to the north. Fine large weeping willows stood 
around the house; hence the name "Willow Bank." 
A dense growth of forest trees extended down the 
steep slope to the river's edge, through which an 
opening allowed of a superb water view. The pro- 
perty remained thus with little change until con- 
demned for Riverside Park. Mr. Meier died there Feb. 
2, 1839. 

He was a director of the N. Y. Mutual Insurance 
Co. and a vice-president of the German Society, in the 
founding of which his father-in-law, Dr. Kunze, had 
been prominent. A member of the Chamber of Com- 
merce, his portrait painted in 1824 adorns its gallery. 
He also held the post of Bremen consul at this port 
from June 12, 1827, until 1837. The business which he 
founded became in 1800 C. &. H. H. Meier, the junior 
partner being his younger brother, who reached New 
York in 1799. The firm's name was changed in 1826 
to Caspar Meier & Company, Laurence Henry von 
Post, whom he found in Bremen on one of his visits, 
having become a partner. In 1836, Herman Oelrichs 
was admitted. The surviving partners would have 
retained the style of the old house had the law of New 
York at that time permitted such use after the owner 
had ceased to be a member, so on Feb. 14, 1839, the 
title was changed to L. H. von Post & Oelrichs. The 
senior partner having died the following December, 
George Wm. Kruger was taken into partnership and 
the firm became Oelrichs & Kruger. On the latter's 
retirement in 1850, the name was again altered, to 
Oelrichs & Co. (composed of Herman and Edwin A. 
Oelrichs), which it has since retained. The business 
is now in the hands of Caspar Meier's grandson, Her- 
man Caspar von Post, who has been its senior since 



384 Zhe ticxo l?ork of l^eeterba^ 

186 1, and his great-grandson Gustav Henry Schwab. 
Mr. Meier's issue were: 

Henrietta Margaret, b. 1804, m. by Dr. Gunn to 
Laurenz Henry von Post, May 24, 1827. Their son, 
Herman Caspar was baptized by the same minister 
May 24, 1828, the anniversary of the union. The 
father was the son of Simon Hermann von Post of 
Bremen, where he was bom Feb. 3, 1800. He died at 
Havana, Cuba, Dec. 19, 1839, while on a trip for his 
health. His wife had died in 1836. Mr. von Post 
succeeded to the office of Bremen consul in 1837, which 
position was held by a member of the firm as long as 
the consulate existed at this port. After his death, 
Herman Oelrichs held it, after whom came Edwin A. 
Oelrichs and then Gustav Schwab. H. C. von Post 
married, in 1853, Jane Scott, daughter of William 
Whitlock, Jr. 

Emily Maria, b. 1806, m. by Dr. Gimn to Albert 
Smith, M.D., who was bom in 1798 and d. 1884. She 
had died in 1872. 

John Diedrick, b. Dec. 22, 1807. He accompanied 
his brother-in-law, Mr. von Post, to Bremen in 1826 and 
there entered the office of H. H. Meier & Co., his uncle's 
firm. He received his education at Dr. Eigenbrodt's 
school at Jamaica, L. I., and afterwards at Columbia 
College. His father decided to send him abroad, so 
he remained at the latter institution but two years. 
Returning home toward the end of 1830, he entered the 
family office, where he became a partner in 1832. He 
died, unmarried, May 21, 1834. 

Eliza Catherine, bap. by Dr. Gunn, 18 14. 

Mary Kunigundi, bap. by Dr. Gunn, 18 16. She m., 
184 1, James Punnett (18 13- 1870), President of the 
Bank of America. She d. 1902. She lived at "Wil- 







5 ■" 



to > 




u 









^ :3 



o a 



among ©IMlme jfamlUes 385 

low Bank" with her mother until her death in 1863, 
when the place was sold. 

John Jasper of Londonderry, Ireland, settled in 
Harsenville in the early thirties. He lived on the 
west side of the Bloomingdale Road on the southwest 
comer of present 69th Street. He later bought land 
of Jacob Harsen on the Nevada Apartment site, and 
afterward the Isaac Caryl plot, which adjoined it on 
the south; and in 1847 built a two-story store which 
was the first brick building in the village and stood 
until the construction of the Nevada, which covered the 
block. Eventually he owned the entire triangle be- 
tween 69th and 70th Streets, the Road and Tenth 
Avenue, with the exception of the north comer, and 
sold his possession for $23,000 in 1874-5 to Rudolph 
Whitman. Domine van Aken officiated at his mar- 
riage to Catharine Thompson in 1837. Their first three 
children, viz., John, b. 1837, Maria, b. 1840, and George 
Washington, b. 1842, were baptized at St. Michael's 
Church; but the others, to wit, Robert Thompson, 
Harriet Ann, William Henry, Theodore Adee, Joseph 
Robinson, and Emma Angeline were baptized by Do- 
mine van Aken. John, the eldest son, served in the 
Board of Education for forty-five years, during part of 
which time he was Superintendent. 

Gerard William Livingston, the sixth Lord of the 
Manor in direct line, lived in a large double frame 
house on the west side of the Bloomingdale Road, be- 
tween present io8th and 109th Streets. He was a 
merchant at 3 South Street, having in 1825 a city 
residence at 323 Greenwich Street and in 183 1 at 10 1 
Prince Street. He and his wife Cornelia de Peyster 
joined the communion August 4, 1838. Elected Elder, 
July 25, 1842, the Consistory met at his Bloomingdale 



386 Zbc flew l?orft of Weetcvt>a^ 

seat in the usual rotation. He acted as Secretary 
pro tern, and represented the congregation at Classis. 
Having removed to Hackensack, where he remained 
four years, he resigned in 1844. On his return to town, 
he became an Elder in the Brick Church, comer of Fifth 
Avenue and 37th Street, and here his funeral services 
were held, thence to Woodlawn. He d. May 21, 1868. 
His descent includes so many interesting lines that it is 
indited in the accompanying table. 

Their issue were Edward Mortimer, b. 1837, bap. by 
Domine van Aken, d. in infancy; William Howard, d. 
in infancy; Anna de Peyster; Cornelia Margaretta and 
Emily Maria, b. 1842 and bap. by Domine van Aken. 
Anna de Peyster m. Charles Havens Htmt, 1855, lawyer 
and Assistant U. S. District Attorney tmder Theodore 
Sedgwick, and author of the Life of Edward Livingston 
1864. She d. May 2, 1907, and left issue, Cornelia 
Margaretta, m. Jules Petit of Parsons & Petit, com- 
mission merchants. He was the son of Edward Petit of 
Bordeaux, who came to New York to retrieve his 
fortunes. After his death, his widow opened the school 
in Bloomingdale in the Richmond house heretofore 
mentioned. Later, she removed to Waverly Place, and 
there she died. Emily Maria Livingston m. Edward C. 
Lord of the firm of Lord, Day & Lord, and left issue. 
The eldest son, William Howard, was b. at Bloomingdale 
and all the children lived there. The youngest was 
about the age of six when the removal to New Jersey 
took place. 

The estate of Jonathan Lawrence, who was at one 
time in the navy and was known accordingly among 
his friends as the Commodore, was located on the east 
side in the seventies and was bounded northwardly 



Robert Livingston (ist Lord) m. Alida Schuyler 
widow of Domine van 
Rensselaer, 1679. 



Philip Livingston (2d Lord) m. Catherine van Brugh 
Sept. 19, 1707. 



Robert Livingston (3d Lord) m. Maria Thong 
May 20, 1731. 



Peter R. Livingston (4th Lord) m. Margaret Livingston 

June 6, 1758. 



Peter W. Livingston (sth Lord) m. Eliza Beekman 
Oct. 13, 1793. 



Anneke Jans 

Johannes Pieters. van Brugh m. Catrina R. Jansen 
I March 29, 1658. 

Peter van Brugh m. Sara Cuyler Nov. 21, 1688. 



Rip van Dam m. Sarah van der Spiegle, Sept. 14, 
I ' 1684. 

Catalijntie van Dam m. Walter Thong, Sept. 19, 
I 1707. 



Peter Schuyler m. Engeltie van Schaick 165 1. 



Margaretta Schuyler m. Robert Livingston, 1697. 

i 

James Livmgston m. Elizabeth Kierstede, 1723. 



Willem Beekman m. Catherina deBrough, Sept. 5. 
^1 1649. 

Gerardus Beekman, M.D., m. Magdalena Abeel.Oct. 
^1 25. 1677. 

William Beekman, M.D., m. Catherine Petersen de la 
I Noy, Oct. II, 1707. 

I 
Gerard William Beekman m. Mary Duyckinck, 1751. 



Johannes de Peyster m. Cornelia Lubertus, 1651. 



Johannes de Peyster m. Anna Bancker, 1688. 
William de Peyster m. Margaret Roosevelt, 1730. 
James William de Peyster m. Anna de Peyster, 1775. 
Gerard de Peyster m. Margaret de Peyster, 1797. 



Gerard William Livingston (6th Lord) m. Cornelia de Peyster 

May 21, 1828. 



among ©IMlme ifamiUee 387 

by the Delafield estate. His widow Patience, the 
sister of Recorder Riker, Hved on the property until 
her death Feb. 22, 185 1. She joined the Church Oct. 
3 1, 1840, and used to drive across present Central Park 
via the Harsenville road in order to attend service. 

Jonas Hanaway, b. in England Aug. 23, 1788, was 
twice married there. He settled in Bloomingdale in 
1826 with Martha Wilson (widow Beard) his (2) wife, 
whom he married in 183 2. They lived in the parsonage 
on the Harsen gift. She was b. in Hertfordshire in 179 1 
and d. in 1890; became a church member, May 5, 
1842, and her husband followed Nov. 4th. He d. 187 1. 
George Hanaway, his son by the first wife, married 
Martha Moore, who united May i, 1845, and their 
children were baptized by Domine van Aken, viz. 
Maria, James, Sarah, and Samuel. Two of them were 
married by him, namely: Maria (united May 5, 1866) 
to Samuel Bawden, and Sarah (united Feb. 5, 1870) to 
Daniel Bremer. Samuel joined at the same time as 
Sarah and served as Deacon and Superintendent of 
the Sabbath-school. He was elected Elder Feb. 4, 1882, 
and was installed by the Rev. A. J. Park on the 21st. 
He presided at the organ for a time and later became 
Clerk of the Consistory. He is a professor at the City 
College. James is dead. James, the brother of 
George, also by the first wife, m. Margaret Kelly in 
the Church, 1854. She brought a certificate from the 
Church of Blairs, Scotland, and both were admitted 
Feb. 3, 1855. She is dead, but he still lives, very infirm. 
Four children, Elizabeth, Margaret, Jane, and Joseph, 
were bap. by the Domine, as also were the Bawden and 
Bremer children. The Rev. James C. Richmond mar- 
ried Sarah Hanaway, their sister, to George Branch 
Magrath, April 26, 184 1, "at the parsonage of the 



388 Z\)c 1Rew WovU of l?e9tert)a^ 

Dutch Reformed Church, Harsenville " reads the record. 
Their first child was baptized by Domine van Aken, in 
1842. 

Amelia Hanaway, a daughter by the second wife, 
united with the Episcopal Church and was the first 
teacher in the House of Mercy when it was located 
in an old frame building at 88th Street and Eighth 
Avenue, and was associated with Mrs. Richmond in 
founding the institution. She taught in the public 
schools for a few years. She died in 1862, at the age 
of twenty-nine. 

Emily Hanaway, her sister, came to live in the par- 
sonage at the age of one year (1836), resided there for 
eight years, when the family removed to a house on an 
elevation at 75th Street and Ninth Avenue, and here 
she stayed for seventeen years. She continued to 
reside in the ward until 1896, when she settled in New 
Jersey. She learned to read in the same public school 
in 82nd Street in which she taught later, and was 
Principal for twelve years of the school in West 40th 
Street. She united with the Church May 3, 1850, and 
taught in the Sunday-school for seventeen years. She 
m., in 189 1, the Rev. Peter Stryker, pastor of the Re- 
formed Church in 34th Street. He had been pastor 
prior to its removal from Broome Street. We are in- 
debted very largely to a journal kept by Mrs. Stryker 
for the contents of the chapter which follows. 

Mary Ann Hanaway, another sister, m. James 
Mackay Tyler, May 5, 1845. She died in England in 
1897. 

William James Beard, grandson of Martha Wilson 
Beard and son of William Edward Beard, who remained 
in England, came to America, and joined the com- 
munion Aug. 5, 1865. He served in the Civil War. 



Hmong ©IMlme jfamlllee 389 

Dealing with a list of members and attendants of a 
century's length, the data here preserved are far from 
complete. The selection of names is fragrant of old 
times, and as the date limit has been reached, so has 
our patience. What more appropriate than that, as 
the chapter began with the father, it should close with 
the son. General Garrit Hopper Striker was bom 
twenty-one years prior to the organization of the 
church society and grew up in attendance on its 
Services from its birth. He was at once selected as 
collector of pew rents and of subscriptions towards the 
building of the parsonage, and continued in the former 
capacity for years, at which time and thereafter he 
taught in the Sabbath-school. Although usually con- 
stant in attendance in the family pew during life, he 
did not join the membership until March 29, 1867, the 
anniversary of his eighty-third birthday. 

He exhibited a marked aptitude for a military 
career. An early biographical sketch of him asserts 
that he had before his 22nd year proved himself a 
good soldier and thereafter an efficient officer, panting 
for service and eager for the attainment of those laurels 
which can he earned alone in such employ. At the 
age of 26 he was commissioned Lieutenant in the 5 th 
N. Y. Regt, 2d Brigade of Infantry, under Col. J. W. 
Mulligan, with rank from March 25, 1809. On the 
breaking out of the war he was assigned as Captain of 
the 4th Company in the 5th Regt. of Volunteers, Isaac 
A. van Hook having succeeded Mulligan in command. 
During the excited period of fortification of Blooming- 
dale Heights, while he was living at Striker's Bay, he 
attended the different calls of his ward and was active 
in obtaining subscriptions and laborers. Meetings were 
often held at Rodgers's Tavern, at 70th Street and the 



Road, and were attended by the neighbors in a united 
effort to hasten the erection of defences for the safety of 
their homes, that ward in which the work was carried 
on being the centre of active preparation. When not 
engaged in a military capacity Capt. Striker lent the 
enthusiasm of his youthful endeavors to stimulating 
others, to seeing that the family horses did their proper 
share at the works, and to collecting vegetables from 
the farm and attending to their distribution. His home 
was so near the line of defences that he passed much 
time during their construction on the ground and, with 
the assistance of his father's slaves, aided and abetted 
the progress of the work. The regiment to which he 
belonged was the last to be regtilarly designated by 
the Committee of Defence and it practically completed 
the works on the Heights. This regiment of de- 
tached militia and that under Lt.-Col. Dodge formed 
the Brigade commanded by General Mapes, who, on 
Oct. 2 2, 1 8 14, tendered the officers and men thereof 
"his unfeigned thanks " for their soldierly appearance, 
stating that he did not believe the United States could 
* 'produce a corps, regular or militia, that could surpass, 
in exercise of the field, this brigade of militia infantry, 
transferred as it was in the short space of six weeks 
into a corps qualified to enter the lists and sustain a 
contest with veterans." These troops were reviewed 
by Governor Tompkins, Nov. nth, and the Columbian 
said that their appearance did their officers honor and 
that their movements were so correct and regular in 
drill and science, that regular troops need not be 
ashamed thereof. ' * They contributed their full share , ' ' 
it adds ' 'to inspire the citizens with the just confidence 
in their efficiency in any emergency. ' ' The Evacuation 
Day parade took place on Nov. 25th and, with military 




Captain 5th Regiment, U. S. Volunteers, War of 1812 

Portrait and signature of General Garrit Hopper Striker, from the original 

painting in possession of the family 



ardor undiminished, proved to be the greatest event 
of this kind since the Revolution. About ten thousand 
men were in line, which extended from Sugar Loaf 
(now Franklin) Street up Broadway to 23d Street. 
On December i, 18 14, Gen. Mapes issued formal or- 
ders to the 3d Brigade of detached militia, being about 
to be discharged from the service of the United States, 
in which he expresed to the officers, non-com's, and 
privates the high satisfaction he had constantly derived 
from their uniform and strict attention to discipline 
and their able and faithful performance of the duties 
the Government required and their fellow-citizens 
expected at their hands, and continued, ' ' The brigade 
has given a character, a name, and a confidence to the 
militia which it never before possessed." 

On March 22, 18 16, Striker was promoted to the 
rank of Major in the 82nd Regt., 3d Brigade, com- 
manded by Lieut. Col. Joseph D. Fay, and in regi- 
mental orders issued at this time, his former Colonel 
(van Hook) expressed himself in the warmest terms of 
Capt. Striker's "soldierly conduct and gentlemanly 
demeanor" while imder his command. Promotion 
to the Lieut .-colonelcy of the same regiment followed, 
April 24, 18 18. He reached the grade of Brigadier in 
1828 and rose to the rank of Maj .-General in Feb., 1837. 
A "grand military ball " was tendered to him at the 
Apollo Rooms in 1846, at which he was presented with 
a service of plate, a gold medal, and a pair of "Revolu- 
tionary boots." The Sun of April 4th reported that 
the beauty and fashion of the city graced the occasion. 
London Punch printed a facetious diatribe anent the 
boots, with a picture thereof, which filled a page of 
that noted periodical. 

Col. Striker, after his marriage to the daughter of 



392 ^be flew l?orft of ^CBtcvbw^ 

Capt. McDotigal in 1818, continued to live at the Bay. 
The following year, his grandfather, John Hopper, died 
and then he removed to the latter's residence, "Rose- 
vale," on the Hudson at the foot of what later became 
53d Street. It was approached by the lane which his 
great-grandfather laid out from his homestead at the 
Bloomingdale Road and which ended at the mansion. 
It took the name Striker's Lane thereafter. Entrance 
was obtained to the grounds through two stone posterns 
leading to a road which divided around a circle lying 
immediately before the house and led to the family 
bams and stables. The old place was set in the forest 
with the gardens to the east, and on the west, massive 
trees to the water's edge. Trees such as were not 
deemed to be found within miles of the city towered 
overhead. Majestic peacocks guarded the portal and 
strutted about in august grandeur. Looking from 
the broad veranda, a superb river view met the gaze 
and in the immediate foreground one saw a goldfish 
pond, surrounded by a railing on which sat plump 
Muscovy drakes, which flew at one's approach and 
struck the water with a resounding splash. Descending 
the steps to and beyond the pond, winding walks, 
under the trees and by rocks and wild flowers and 
bushes, finally brought one to the billiard house, where 
an old-fashioned table, so large as to leave barely 
space to promenade around it, occupied the lower 
story. Upstairs were garnered the fruits and nuts 
for winter consumption. Continuing the walk, still im- 
der grand natural trees and along narrow meandering 
paths, the bath-house was reached, situated in a cove 
over the sandy floor of which flowed a stream whose 
sources were the springs in the pond above. The old 
soldier was a man of taste and culture and the con- 



BmoriG ®lb^timelfamlllc0 393 

servatories were his great pleasure. The name "Rose- 
vale" was doubly appropriate, as a large share of the 
enclosed grounds were given to rose culture, the re- 
mainder being a valley sloping precipitously in places 
but generally gradually towards the river, the mansion 
itself being the line of demarkation. 

Here the General maintained an unbounded hospi- 
tality and dwelt some fifty years, constantly adding 
to the charms of his garden, his particular hobby. His 
numerous friends and admirers flocked around him 
and the abode was the centre of hospitality for leading 
men of the nation. On one of the window panes in the 
parlor appeared the names of Lafayette, Kossuth, and 
Clay, scratched thereon with a diamond during their 
respective visits. "Old Bullion" Benton, Webster, 
Greeley, General Scott and other military celebrities, 
with a host of lesser lights, were welcome here. At 
the funerals of two of his distinguished friends during 
1852 he acted first as aide in the procession in honor 
of the obsequies of Clay, July 20th and as pall-bearer for 
Webster he represented one of the then 3 1 States of the 
Union, Nov. i6th. The General was a conspicuous fig- 
ure in the New York of his day, strikingly like his old 
friend Winfield Scott. It has been said of him that he 
united in his person the gentleman and the soldier, 
the high-spirited convivialist, the good husband, the 
tender father, the kind friend — in short all the qualities 
that were centred in the gentleman of the olden time. 
He departed this life at his home on April 15 , 1868. The 
Rev. Dr. Hutton and Domine van Aken officiated at 
the ceremonies held there, when a vast concourse 
thronged the spacious mansion and lined the lane and 
the street as the procession passed and his remains 
were interred in Trinity Cemetery, where a plot had 



394 Zbc IRew IPorft of lPe6ter^ap 

been prepared owing to the contemplated demolition 
of his ancestral church and the consequent abandon- 
ment of the family vault. At one of the last services 
held there, his funeral discourse was preached by Do- 
mine van Aken, which was published in full in the 
Christian Intelligencer. In recognition of his active 
participation in the construction of the defences on 
Bloomingdale Heights, the descendants of those who 
aided therein, as represented by the Daughters of 1812, 
inscribed his name on the tablet placed on one of the 
buildings at Columbia University. He did not simply 
stand and wait, but served, and on Milton's theory, 
merits the honor. His son, James Alexander, who 
died July 19, 1900 the last of his generation, retained 
the family connection with the church of his grand- 
father, and was married by its minister. 

Here follow the commimicants not heretofore men- 
tioned, to whose names are affixed some genealogical 
data. The date first given is that of membership. 

1807, Mar. 29 Lawrence Lawrence On confession. 
" Nov. George Williams and " 

Jane Ward, his wife " 

1809, Mar. 30 John Barlow and Upon certificate dated 
Hannah, his wife Dec. 4, 1808. 
" " " Martha Cox, wife of On confession. 

Lawrence Hoffman 
1 81 2, May II Mary Shurtliff, wife of Upon certificate from 
Amasa G. Emmons church at Harlem; 
died March, 1839. 
" Nov. 2 Thomas G. Searls Upon certificate from 

Rev. Dr. Elijah Par- 
ish, Byfield, Mass. 
""5 Hannah, wife of Wil- 
liam Stuart Died March 3, 181 5. 



among ©IMlme familiee 395 

1815, Apr. 9 John Moir On certificate from 

Ass. Reformed Ch. 
" " " Isabel Moir On certificate from 

Ass. Reformed Ch. 
1 81 7, May I Sarah Hopkins, wife On confession; dis- 
of John T. Stewart missed Nov. lo, 1820. 
" " " Rachel van Braakel, On certificate from 

wifeof Nic, T. Hege- Rev. Mr. Btirk. 
man 
" Aug. I Margaret Dobbs On certificate from 

Kinderhook. 

" " " Eliza Bayard Ritson On confession. 

i8i8, Feb. I John Wilson and On certificate from 

Catherine Hutchi- church in Greenwich, 
son, his wife 

" Aug. James Eddie and On confession. 
Elspet Eraser, his 

wife On certificate. 

1822, Aug. 2 Isaac D. Cole and 

Ann Maria Shatzel, 
his wife " 

1823, Jan. 30 James G. Russel and On confession 

Anne Risk, his wife " " 

" " Martha Burtis, wife Died Dec. 31, 1853, 
of James Amory aged nearly 70. 

1824, Aug. I Henrietta, wife of Died 1826. 

Theodore Mayer 
" Nov. I Susan Kniffen, wife 

of John Williams Both deceased 1830. 

1825, Feb. I Margaret Scott, wife On confession. 

of Robert Kinkade 
" Apr. 29 Sophia Brass, wife of Dismissed to Dr. 

Mr. J. Fowls Broadhead's church. 

1827, Feb. I Martha Watt wife of 

Andrew Watt 

1828, Oct. 30 Mary Ann Jackson On confession. 



396 zi)c flew l?orft of IJeater^ai? 

1829, Feb. David Patterson Died Oct. or Nov., 

1838. 

1 83 1, Apr, 29 Lucy B. Allerton On confession. 

Nov. 5 Lewis Oakley and On certificate from 
Mary B., his wife Presbyterian church. 

1832, June 7 William Miller Died 1849. 

Samuel Oakley and On certificate from 
Abigail, his wife the Brick Church. 

1835, Nov. 14 Mary Halden Died June 6, 1838. 

Mary Patterson, wife 
of Capt. Hugh Gra- 
ham Died 1845. 

1836, Feb. 7 David Law On certificate. 
Apr. 4 Harriet, wife of Jo- 

siah Hoyt " " 

" Nov. 4 Echley Fitch 

" " Mrs. Margaret Waite " 

1837, Aug. 4 Keziah, wife of Da- 

vid Law " " Dismissed 

Dec. 31, 1856. 
" Elizabeth Law On certificate. Dis- 

missed, Decern. 31, 
1856. 
" " Mrs. Patterson, wife 

of David Patterson Reported dead Apr., 
1838. 
" " Mary Church On certificate. 

" Hannah Kerr, wife " ** Dismissed 

Frederick Odell 1878. 

1838, Feb. 2 John Halden Died Dec, 1849. 
May 4 Grace Law On confession. Dis- 
missed Dec. 31, 1856. 

Nov. 2 Agnes, wife of Fran- 
cis Willson Died Aug., 1854. 

" " Jane Willson On confession. 

" " Isabella Halden, wife 
of James Nish 



<I (I 



(I <( 



among ©Ib^ttme jfamllle^ 397 

1839, Feb. I James Foster Brad- 

ley and Elizabeth 
Liscum (widow 
Post) , his wife On confession. 

" " William E. Haskins " " Dismissed 

Feb., 1856. 
" " I Susan Auchmuty On confession, from 

Cold Springs, 

1840, May I Frances Willson Died May, 1848. 

" " John Waite " Aug., 1882. 

" " William Ilsley " Apr. 6, 1873. 

Letitia Major (maid- 
en name Falken) " 1867. 
Mary Beckley, now 
wife of William " Apr., 1858. 
Ilsley 
" July 31 Emily Steele On confession. 
" " " Rachel Campbell " certificate. 

" " Eliza Jane Garret 
" Oct. 31 Julia Lawrence, wife 

of John P. Smith Dismissed Jan. 8, 
1876; d. Apr. 23, 
1878. 

" " " Ann Wright, wife of On certificate. 

Robert Cameron 

1 841, Feb. 5 George Watson and 

Isabella Slorach, On confession. 

his wife 
" " " James Bremner, " certificate. 

and Ann Leiper, his 

wife " confession. 

" " " Margaret Fake van Died May 10, 1849. 

Orden 
*' " " Mary Crozier On certificate. 



398 ^be mew l^orft of l^eeterbai? 

1841, Jtily Mary Harriot, wife On certificate from R. 

of John Freeman D. Church of Broome 
St., N. Y. Dismissed 
July, 1848. 
Mrs. Elizabeth 

Thompson On cert, from Pres. 

Ch. of Hopewell; d. 

Sept. 28 or 29, 1851. 

" Aug. I George McCartney On cert, from 9th Pres. 

Ch. N. Y. Dismissed 
Mch., 1849. 

" Nov. 5 John N. Boyd and On cert, from N. R. D. 
Susan, his wife Ch. cor. Greene and 

Houston Sts. N. Y. 
Dismissed Nov, 1863. 
She d. Sept., 1856. 
" " " Peter Rennie and On cert, from Aqua- 

Agnes Robertson, chononk, N. J.; he 
his wife d. Mar. 4, 1870. 

" " " Mary Ann Corkey, Dismissed Dec. 8, 

wife of George Mc- 1848, to 42d St. 
Cartney Pres. Ch. 

" " " Nancy McCord On cert, from Brigh 

(Ireland) ; lives with 
Mr. Ward. 

1842, Feb. 4 James D. Yates On confession. 

" Mary Ann Yates 
" Apr. 28 Ellen Brigham, wife 

James Bowley Died Oct. 29, 1857. 

" Aug. 5 Martha Ridge way, 
wife James D, Yates 

" " " Henry Quick and On cert, from Laight 

Catherine van Os- St. Pres. Ch. ; both 
trand, his wife dismissed June 6, 

1849. 



among ®IM!me yamlUce 399 

1842, Nov, 4 Letitia Jane Ross, Dismissed Jan. 27, 

wife of William H. 1852. 
Moore 
" '• Ann Reid, wife of 
William Clark 

1843, John Wood and Car- Dismissed June 13, 

oline Parker, his 1853. 
wife 

1845, Aug. I Experience Heath, On cert, from Dr. 

wid. of Joseph Lyon Taylor, Bergen, N. J. 
" John Smith On cert, from Free Ch. 

of Scotland. 

1846, May I Janet Allen On cert, from Relief 

Ch., Glasgow, Scot- 
land. 

" " " Fanny Finlay On cert, from Church 

of Scotland. 

" July 31 James Robinson On confession. 

" " " Nancy Maria Wright " cert, from Pres. 

Ch. of Genoa, N. Y. 
" " Eliza Ann Wright On cert, from Pres. 

Ch. of Genoa, N. Y. 

1848, Feb. 6 Sarah Ashby Died Feb., 1851. 

1849, Aug. 3 Mrs. Ann Rhodes On confession. 

(maiden name 
Jones ; sister to Mrs 
Ashby) 
" Nov. 3 Mary Catharine Em- Died 1855. 
mons' 

1850, Feb. I Wid. Elizabeth Reid On certificate. 

(maiden name Mat- 
thews) 
" " Mary Ann Stark " 
(maiden name Low) 
" " " Eliza T. Laycock, " confession, 

wife of Rev. Thom- 
as A. Amerman 



400 Zhc IRew l?ork of l?e0tert>ai? 

1850, May 3 Ann Eliza Purdy Died May 10, 1862. 
" " " Jane Halden On confession. 

" Jane Kelly " " Died Oct. 

16, 1851. 
" Aug. 4 Leonard Beckley On confession. 

1 85 1, Aug. 2 Emily Read " " Dis- 

missed Dec. 9, 1862. 
" " " Mary Ann Read On confession; died 

Nov. 20, 1862. 

1852, July 30 George Robertson, On cert, from Free 

and Ann Eraser, Church of Scotland, 
his wife He d. 1864. 

1854, Feb. 12 Sarah Fleet On cert, from Bleeck- 

er St. Pres. Ch.; d. 
May 14, 1878. 
" Aug. 5 Miriam Boyd On confession; dis- 

missed Oct. 30, i860. 

1855, Aug. Sarah, wife of Alex- On certificate from 

ander Smith 4 2d St. Pres. Ch. 

1856, Feb. 3 Ann Maria Brigs, On certificate. 

wife of William 
Love 
" May 2 Catharine Duryea, On cert, from Green- 
widow of — Quick wich Ch., city; d. 
Dec. 5, i860. 
" Aug, 2 Mrs. Rebecca Brock On cert, from 42d 

St. Church; d. June 
16, 1882. 
" " " Mrs. Mary Ann Cur- On cert, from 42d 

tis St. Pres. Ch. 

1857, Oct. 31 Harriet Ann Rogers, 

wife of Samuel Ellis On confession 

1858, Feb. 5 Matilda Lewis, wife 

of John Wendelken Died 1870. 
" Apr. 30 Annie Kelly " April 2, 1864. 

" Nov. 4 Amelia Stokely " Nov., 1858. 

" " 5 Sarah Lewis " about 1859. 



among ©IMlme jfamllle0 401 

i860, Feb. 5 Nicholas Hays and On confession. Unit- 
Caroline Schricy, ed with the Baptist 
his wife Ch. 

" •' Mrs. Eliza Schricy, 
mother of Mrs. 
Hays Died 1871. 

" May 4 Andrew Anderson. " 1866. 

" Aug. 4 Jane Bogert, wife of 

Andrew Anderson " 1865. 
1 861, Feb. I Elizabeth Frazer 
Robinson (Mrs. 
Thomas Stanley) " 1875. 
" Nov. 3 Henry S. Mitchell " Jan. 22, 1879. 

t862, Jan. 31 Theresa, wife of 

James Bliss Dismissed to ist 

Ref'd Ch., Tarry- 
town, 1878. 
" Phoebe, wife of 
" Henry Hole 
" Aug. 2 Alexander Ray Skin- 
ner Died 1883. 
" " Frances, wife of A, 
Stoddard 

1863, Jan. 30 Eliza Brunish, wife 

of Alexander Bennet 
" May 2 Eliza Ann, wife of 
Wm. D. Silva 
" Ann Maria Albout, 
wife of William 
Walters 

1864, Feb. 6 John Kell Curtis and 

Mary F. Gibson, his 
wife 
" Apr. 30 Sarah, widow of 
William Waring 
26 



402 ^be IRew IJorft of l^esterba^ 

1864, Apr. 30 Margaret Muggie, Died 188 1. 

wife of William 

Fleetner " 1881. 

1865, Feb. 4 Thomas W. Black 

and Jane Dalrym- 
ple, his wife 
" " Maria Deretta Fest- 
gen, wife of Augus- 
tus C. Graser 
" May 6 Robert Watts 

" Aug. 5 Wm. J. Beard Dismissed to 34th St. 

Ref'd Ch., Apr. 27, 
1866. 

1866, Feb. 3 Magdalena Roeder, 

wife of Paul Bauer 
" May 5 Alonzo Blanck Died May, 1866. 

1867, May 4 Jane Smith, wife of 

Anthony V. Wy- 
nans 
" Aug. 3 Mary Louise Clark, 

widow of Hamilton Dis'd to California 
Morgan May 27, 1871. 

1868, Jan. 26 Robert McKensie. Died 1880. 
" Feb. 1 Caroline Northwood, 

wife of William 

Blick Died July, 1877. 

'* " " Catharine Quick, On cert, from 42d 

widow of William St. Pres. Ch. 

Frederick 
" Henrietta Q. Freder- ' 

ick, wife of John P. On cert, from 42 d 

Rejoiolds St. Pres. Ch. 

" Apr. 5 Sarah J. McCon- On cert.; dismissed 

aughey, wife of Mar., 1882. 

John Harding 



Hmona ©lt):*time jfamlllee 403 

1868, Apr. 5 Frederick Kreider & 
Caroline Blatner, 
his wife 
May 2 Harriet N. Moore, 
mother of Mrs. 
Thomas Mitchell. 
" Dec. 27 Elizabeth Post, wife 
of Albert van De- 
beck Dismissed March, 
1882. 

1870, June 13 Daniel Murray Died 1871. 

" Oct. 16 Hester Dale Dismissed to Califor- 

nia. 
" " 23 Caroline Bauer On confession. 

" " Dora Bauer 

1871, May 28 Margaret Divene, 

widow of David 

Monteith Died 1878. 

" Aug. 6 Alexander William 

McDonald Died Aug. 3, 1872. 

" " Charlotte Williams, 

wife of Alex. Wm. On confession. 
McDonald. 

Alex. Wm McDon- 
ald Jr. 

1872, Jan. 7 Jacob Flick " " 

" " Anna Flick 
" " 27 Samuel Halden Died Jan. 27, 1872. 

'* Feb. 4 Sarah Louisa Rapp, 

widow of Samuel 

Halden On confession. 

1873, Ms-^' 16 Henry Gilbertson Died May 10, 1873. 

1874, Feb. I George Frederick 

Armstrong On confession. 

Fannie Christina 
Armstrong " " 



i( << 



404 Zbc 1Rew IPork of IJeeterbai? 

1874, Feb. I Lelia King Arm- On confession. 

strong 
" Mar. 6 Catherine Ehmer, 
widow of Frederick 
Pfening 

1875, Apr. 18 Catharine Ann On cert, from Luth'n 

Kirschbaum, wife Ch. Walker St.; d. 
of Joseph Robinson Oct., 1880. 
" " " Louisa Pfening On confession. 

" 25 Marion Swan Halden " 
wife of Charles A. 
Winch 
June 20 Mrs. A. M. F. Com- On cert, from Clin- 
stock ton, N. J., Pres. Ch. : 

d. Jan. 16, 1876. 
" July 25 Julia Tinellie, widow 
of Thomas Royal 
Lush On confession. 

" Oct, 24 William Fruitright Dismissed Feb., 1880. 
Nov. 6 Lizzie M. Armstrong 

1876, Apr. 30 Chas. Francis Adams 

Mitchell On confession. 

1877, May 6 Barbary Geier, wife 

of Jacob Flick 
" Oct. 28 Louis Overmeyer and 
Charlotta Cipp, his 
wife 

1878, Apr. 7 Pauline Pfening " " 
1881, Oct. 6 Samuel B. Reed. 

" " 22 Otis D. Stewart On cert, from ist 

Ref 'd Dutch Ch. 
New Brunswick, N.J. 



VIII 
IRemtniscences 

fin the many years during which we have been 
collecting material relating to Bloomingdale and its 
worthies, much has been ascertained of interest which 
is worth preserving here. Much more would be out of 
place in this connection, as it does not concern this 
story. The data transcribed in this chapter have been 
gleaned from diaries, letters, and notes, taken from the 
spoken words of the few surviving old residents. Mrs. 
Jane Cozine Borland, Mrs. Ann Agnes Dana, ^ Mrs. 
Marion Bissland Carse, and Mrs. Emily Hanaway 
Stryker are the oldest living communicants. Letters 
from all of these have proved a mine of information, 
as has also personal application to many of the de- 
scendants of families heretofore mentioned, but the 
palm must be given to the journal kept by Mrs. Stry- 
ker, as well as a number of articles contributed by her 
to the press. 

Few, among the many dwellers in old Manhattan, can 
recall the appearance of Bloomingdale sixty-odd years 
ago. We intend to limit ourselves largely in this work 
to the Harsenville section thereof, the confines of which 

1 Mrs. Dana died at Brooklyn, November 25, 1907, and was 
buried in the Oakland Cemetery at Yonkers, N. Y. 

405 



4o6 Zbc 1Rew l?orh of IPesterbai? 

have been sufficiently described in previous chapters. 
The name was not merely appropriate, but necessary, 
for the different hamlets were situated at such distances 
apart that the local appellations were required and 
became mandatory for convenience sake. An owner of 
property near present Central Park West and the 
Harsenville road, many years ago, gave to his posses- 
sions the title of Treaceyville. This is said not to have 
been quite agreeable to one of the descendants of old 
Jacob Harsen, who inquired of the owner by what 
authority he had used the name. Tapping him on the 
shoulder, this conclusive rejoinder was made: "Misther 
Harsen, Misther Harsen, tell me by what authority 
your father gave it the name of Harsenville?" We do 
not hear that the question was answered, but the former 
name has been relegated to oblivion, while the other 
is being fast blotted from memory. 

The Harsenville road, open in early days only from 
the Commons to the Harsen mansion, was a lonely 
country way. Strangers were seldom seen in the 
neighborhood. Soon after sunset one evening, such 
an unusual apparition presented itself to some of the 
village youngsters with the request, "My dear 
children, can you tell me who lives — ?" The "dear 
children " did not wait to hear the rest but ran scream- 
ing to the house, crying "Father, Mother, there is a 
crazy woman who asks ' Can you tell me who lives — ? ' " 
Chimney sweeps, with sooty faces, and bundles of brush- 
wood on the back, calling the slogan "Sweep, oh, 
sweep," were expected, but even they caused the 
little ones to keep at the distance of the extreme side 
of the road. 

Domine van Aken, whose use of the parsonage was 
sometimes interrupted by his state of health, was ac- 




{^0^^i.c^^ iWUf 



Portrait and signature of Mrs. Emily Hanaway Stryker 



1Remlnl0cence0 407 

customed at such times to rent it. Standing far back 
from the Harsenville road, east of present Columbus 
Avenue, it was surrounded by the grounds of the acre 
plot which Harsen donated to the Church. In 1836, 
the Hanaways occupied it. How the children of the 
family did ransack the low-studded garret, and frolic 
in the broad hallway! The reverence of the old house 
has stamped itself upon the memories of them that 
survive. Access to it was gained by the local lane, 
along which were a number of houses. Starting at the 
Bloomingdale Road was the Holmes residence; next 
lived the Steeles, also attendants at the services, and ad- 
joining the parsonage lands resided a French family. 
The head of this house once introduced himself to a 
neighbor, who did not recognize him, as follows: "I am 
Meester Veming, put I hev mine tirty clothes on!" 
The Laws lived on the south side of the lane in a 
house which faced the Bloomingdale Road, ever to 
be associated in mind with hollyhocks, altheas, lady- 
slippers, bleeding hearts, and such old-fashioned 
flowers. Near by lived the Lambs. In his infantile 
days little Robert exercised his talent for painting, 
which served him so well in after life. It is recalled 
that in this habitation, at the age of five, his artistic 
instinct caused him to crush a brick and with a stone 
grind it to powder. Moistening it, he undertook, with 
a feather, to paint the house and gate posts. The firm 
of J. &. R. Lamb, makers of church ornaments, pulpit 
decorations, and stained glass windows, now occupies 
a place apart in the business world. Joseph died 
recently. Their father passed away when they were 
very young. 

The diary begins its retrospect at the Cozine mansion 
at Eighth Avenue and 54th Street. Here dwelt Mrs. 



4o8 tlbe flew l?ork of l?e6ter^a^ 

John Cozine and her daughters Catherine (Mrs. Fleet) 
and Jane, bom Nov. 7, 181 8 (Mrs. Borland). Their 
sister, Sarah Stakes, wife of Peter Adrian Horn, had 
died in her twentieth year (1836) and left a little child, 
Sarah Jane. It had been the charge of Mrs. Borland 
since it was three days old. The latter's little daughter 
Jennie was likewise an inmate. The old yellow home- 
stead is long since gone — removed to make way for 
the opening of the avenue, in the way of which im- 
provement it stood. The property passed into other 
hands before the widow's decease. She had spent all 
her married life within its walls. Although not in- 
digenous to the soil, having been bom in New Jersey, 
she was a cousin by marriage of the Harsens and of an 
array of Bloomingdale families of almost limitless 
length. Following the old-time custom, when to 
marry an outsider was seldom heard of, and inter- 
marriages among cousins usual, the old residents were 
so connected that from present Union Square to Bloom- 
ingdale village ( 1 00th St.) the Butch settlers were 
joined by ties of consanguinity little imderstood in 
these days. It may be well to mention some of those 
with which the Cozines were allied, the names of whom 
will stir memories of the New York of yesterday among 
the old-timers. From down town proceeding north- 
ward, we get the Mandevilles, then come the Horns, 
van Ordens, Varians, Webbers, Hoppers, Somerin- 
dycks, Byckmans, Strikers, and others whose farms 
covered most of the territory above spoken of. 

In this house, one afternoon, we met Mrs. Plumley, 
the mother of the Rev. Gardiner Spring Plumley. 
Interesting stories of Br. Gunn's ministry had often 
been told by others, and now we had the privilege of 
talking with an intimate friend in his family thirty- 



1Rem!n!0cence6 409 

three years before. While her kindly face looked down 
into ours, she narrated tales of her pleasant life in 
Bloomingdale, of her connection with the old Brick 
Church when it stood on Nassau Street, opposite 
City Hall Park, and of her removal to another part of 
the country. We were afterwards informed of her 
devotion to the pastor, Rev. Dr. Gardiner Spring, 
after whom she had named her boy. On the north side 
of 50th Street, between Eighth Avenue and Broadway, 
a temporary church edifice had been erected. It was 
here that the young man was installed as pastor. 
Some after changes closed these doors and it was then 
that his mother's early friends, the Cozines, called his 
congregation to their parlors and every Sabbath day 
found the rooms filled. On the Fourth of July, 1855, 
the Sabbath-school of the Church at Harsenville held 
its anniversary exercises on the grounds behind the old 
farmhouse. The Rev. Mr. Plumley, his wife, his 
parents, and his sister were there. The young minister, 
happy and enthusiastic, arose to address us. He 
related that when he was a little boy, his mother 
had told him of a country village, many miles away, 
where the people were afraid to walk out of evenings, 
because of robbers. In this place she at one time 
taught in the Sunday-school — ^this at a time when even 
good people had their doubts about such schools. Dr. 
Gunn even refused to send his children for fear of the 
consequences. He told also of the old colored slave 
of the family, of whom we have heard. So godly was 
he that Dr. Gunn once remarked, " I shall be happy to 
get into heaven and take a seat at the feet of Hannibal 
Ritter." 

Continuing his reminiscences, Mr. Plumley stated 
that this good man came to Jacob Harsen on an occasion 



4IO Zbc flew l?ork of IPesterbap 

and asked to be excommunicated, saying that he had 
had a serious quarrel with a neighbor and that there 
had been much cursing and swearing. "What!" 
exclaimed Deacon Harsen, "did you swear, Hanni- 
bal ?" "No, sir, ' ' was the reply, ' ' Mr. swore terribly, 

but I never said a single word." It seems that Hanni- 
bal had sold him a horse for five dollars and that the 
purchaser came to the old colored man declaring that 
he had been cheated, as the horse was not soimd. As 
Mr. Plumley ended his address, Domine van Aken 

arose. He gave an account of the last hours of Mr. 

and added, "No doubt he and Hannibal have been 
clasped in each other's arms in heaven!" After the 
exercises, wood was gathered on the grounds and Mrs. 
Plumley, who appeared to be a general favorite, pre- 
pared the coffee and tea, and, assisted by the ladies, 
set a dainty table. It was a pleasant, happy party 
that returned to the city at sunset. 

We frequently heard Mr. Plumley preach in the little 
building and his sermons were full of Gospel truths. 
This congregation afterwards united with that of the 
Rev. James B. Dunn when his church removed from 
Spring Street, and it is now the flourishing Central 
Presbyterian Church in West 57th Street between 
Broadway and Seventh Avenue. The edifice on this 
site was formerly that presided over by the Rev. Dr. 
John Hall at Fifth Avenue and 19th Street, and was 
removed stone by stone and reconstructed here. Mr. 
Plumley in after years became a pastor in the Reformed 
Church in Fulton Street. He died in 1894 and was 
buried from the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, 
when Dr. Hall officiated. 

A walk through the village sixty-odd years ago! A 
pretty village it was. There was no "shanty town " to 



IReminiecencee 4" 

mar the beautiful expanse of green, and the rural 
simplicity. The foreigners came later on. The rocks 
were there, but the goats came with the new arrivals. 
There was even no Central Park, just acres of waste land 
aroimd. As we left the Cozine homestead, we crossed 
Eighth Avenue and continued on in the shadow of a 
great rock before we reached 58th Street. We wUl 
walk on the west side of the Bloomingdale Road and 
return on the east side. 

Look among the trees, near 59th Street. That is the 
residence of the Havemeyers. Now look forward over 
the green fields. There are a few scattered dwellings 
before we enter Harsenville. At 64th Street stood a 
modest little frame cottage. A godly man lived there 
who was well known and respected. He was the keeper 
of cows and supplied the village with milk. Although 
a Baptist, as were others near by, he attended the 
weekly prayer-meetings at the local church. At 66th 
Street once stood an old frame building, the abode of 
Mr. Norton. "J. B. D. Galliard & Son," French flor- 
ists, hung out their sign later. 

* ' I have come to see you. I want to make some pies." 
These words came from the lips of a little old woman 
who dwelt close by. She was queer, but what of that ? 
We are all more or less queer. Our queerest neighbor 
often lives next door to us, and he looks out of his 
window and wonders why we are so queer. The fact 
is we all wear colored spectacles. Some of us have on 
blue, some green, some yellow, some red. We all 
wonder why our neighbor with the green glasses per- 
sists in saying everything is green, and we storm and 
fret and wonder why his parents and teachers did not 
make him see everything with the same colored 
glasses we wear. Well, well! what a monotonous 



412 Zbc IRew IPorh of l?e6terbai? 

world this would be if we all saw things alike. The old 
ball would keep turning around year after year and it 
would|be so little changed that if Adam and Eve 
should return they would see the Garden of Eden as 
they left it. So let us remember the apostolic injunc- 
tion, "Let not him that eateth despise him that 
eateth not." 

Every one knew the little woman and laughed at her 
eccentricities, while she in turn wondered why they 
laughed. But she was respected nevertheless, and 
when on Sunday, come rain or come sunshine. Granny 
H was seen, with reticule on one arm and prayer- 
book in hand, wending her way to St. Michael's, she 
became a walking sermon to all. Would to God that 
the people of the present age, who have their names 
written on the church books, would be as faithful as 
the dear old peculiar saint, who long years ago went 
to her reward. We do not remember that she ever 
rode. She preferred to walk from 68th Street to 99th 
Street on the country road. In summer this thorough- 
fare was thick with dust, in winter and spring with 
snow and mud. The latter splashed over the shoe- 
tops or sadly spoiled the young girls' pantalets, both 
girls and pantalets being the pride of the mothers. 

It has been an easy thing to find an excuse for 
staying away from the house of God. 

As butterflies with gaudy wings 

Display themselves on summer days, 
So Sunday saints, more gaudy 'things, 

Will seek God's house, to pray and praise. 
But if a mist o'erspread the ground, 

Or e'en a cloud obscure the skies, 
These Sunday saints are weather-bound 

And stay at home like butterflies. 



IRemlnisccncee 413 

It became a very plausible excuse for persons to remain 
at home from the afternoon service because the driving 
up the Bloomingdale Road, on a Sunday afternoon, 
rendered it positively unsafe to venture out. There 
were no sidewalks, and the dust, scattered by the pass- 
ing vehicles, pretty well peppered the white muslin 
dresses of the young girls. In winter, the quantity of 
sleighs and the jingling of their bells confused the 
pedestrian and made it dangerous to life. The Sab- 
bath-breakers were on their way to McComb's Dam, 
the favorite resort. As a consequence, many people 
eased their consciences and sat down to a quiet after- 
noon, while a few, more conscientious ones, took risks 
and attended the service at the village church at 3 
o'clock. 

Granny H left her home early on Simday morning 

and, as the driving did not begin until afternoon, she 
was on the safe side. During the week she taught a 
private school for very small children. Not being 
the owner of a clock, she commenced the morning 
exercises, and dismissed the children, when the sun 
cast its shadow upon certain marks on the floor. Cats 
were her delight, and boys her abomination. Her in- 
come was very small, so the neighbors often sent her 
presents and smiled when, in her independent way, 
she found fault. She would enter a neighbor's house 
and inform them she was about to make some pies. 
As the dish in her hand was empty her friends would 
ask good-naturedly, "What are you going to make 
them with, Granny?" ''Oh!" she would reply, "I 
thought you would give me a little flour and a few 
apples." As this was never refused, the pies were 
made and the old lady, after a little chat, would take her 
leave. It is related that the village doctor, on one 



414 ZCbe 1Rew l?orft of ^cetev^H^ 

occasion, sent her a load of wood and placed himself 
in a position where he might be able to hear her expres- 
sions of gratitude. "It's no use for Dr. Williams to 
send me a load of wood, unless he sends some one to 
cut it," was the grateful thought that burst upon the 
listening ear. So far as we know she was alone in the 
world, although some have said that she came of a 
family of wealth. Notwithstanding all her peculiari- 
ties she was looked after by her kind neighbors and 
when she died, although there were none to weep, she 
had a kindly burial. 

Next we come to the residence of the Caryl family. 
Isaac was the head of the house. He owned property 
on the Nevada site and was one of those who sold to 
Jasper. Sarah, the wife, joined the communion Nov. i, 
1856, and died in 1859. Emily Caryl was married by 
the minister to William Halden in 1842. About the 
year 1850 a widow with her two little boys lived there. 
She was in feeble health, and for some reason was 
obliged to leave her house for a while. She sailed 
across the sea to her native land, England. It may 
have been for the purpose of settling business matters^ 
or it may have been on account of her health, for it 
was evident to all that she was soon to pass away. She 
returned just ready to go to the land "from whence 
no traveller returns." Dear little Mrs. Ashby! All 
through her sickness she gathered many friends among 
the young people and it was they -^^ho watched by her 
dying bed. When at last the close of life was near 
she took upon her lips the hymn so precious to God's 
saints at that time. It is quaint, compared with 
modem hymns — 

Vital spark of heavenly flame, 

Quit, oh quit this mortal frame! 



1Remln!sccnce0 415 

Trembling, hoping, lingering, sighing, 
Oh, the pain, the bliss of dying. 

She sang on until she came to the words 

Cease, fond mortals, cease your strife ! 
And let me languish into life. 

She then became exhausted and sank sweetly to her 
rest. We gathered around her coffin in her home and 
our pastor called our attention to her peaceful ex- 
pression. It was an impressive hour. Her two little 
boys were placed in the Orphan Asylum. The same 
day and at an hour so near that set for the young 
mother's funeral, Domine van Aken had to shorten the 
service a trifle in order that he might officiate at another. 
An aged servant of God was resting from her labors 
and was now to be committed to the dust to await 
the resurrection of the just. This was the widow 
of Samuel A. Lawrence, an Elder during Dr. Gunn's 
pastorate. 

We now reach the Jasper grocery. A few years 
later, Mr. John Reid, who had kept the hotel on the 
opposite side of the street, left it to the care of "Pop" 
Griffen and built a small house on land hired from the 
Church, where he opened a variety store. One of his 
sisters, Ann Clark, had children baptized by the minister 
and both united with the society. This the centre of 
Harsenville, in 1845, boasted of only some ten houses 
along the Bloomingdale Road. What was called "River 
Lane," a continuation of the Harsenville Road which 
ran westerly from the Mansion nearly on the line of 
present 70th St., ended at Sanger's soap works. This 
was during the thirties. He was succeeded by Peter 
Rennie, an Elder, who opened in the forties a calico 
print factory on the river's banks. This gave em- 



4i6 Zbc flevp IPorft of IJesterbai? 

ployment to many young people, most of whom came 
from a distance to their labor. Sanger's wife was a 
sister of the Brooks who married William Holmes's 
daughter Augusta. 

At the head of the street was the engine-house of No. 
50, Mohegan, on the groimd where the original church 
edifice stood. Tenth Avenue ended here and was not 
extended farther until 1850. The place to which it 
was opened formed at the time, as it does to-day, a 
triangle. There a stream of water flowed through it to 
lose^itself in the river at the foot of present 69th Street. 
When fire broke out, excitement grew intense in the 
small hamlet. How the shouts of ' ' Fire ! Fire ! ' ' echoed 
and "ding, dong, ding, dong" reverberated as the 
engine was hauled out! The volimteers pulled and 
tugged, shouted and swore as it rattled up the Bloom- 
ingdale Road. It passed the Harsenville Road this 
time and stopped somewhere in the vicinity of 79th 
Street. We were wrapped in blankets and carried to 
the north window of our house to watch the progress 
of the flames. It was our first experience of a fire. 
Oh! pour on water, brave volunteers! Extinguish the 
flames if you can ! They leap to the heavens and men- 
acingly roar as they rise. Crash come the walls until 
only a heap of ashes is left. Thus was destroyed 
Huddard's school building. 

The second story of the brick building which Jasper 
put up was rented to the city, which used it for the 
local police station. Entrance thereto was obtained 
in the rear. Capt. Robert Thompson and five men 
had charge of that part of the island east, west, and 
north of 42nd Street. An officer's salary was $500 a 
year. 

Murphy was the village blacksmith. His shop was 



1Remlni0cence0 417 

at the now southeast comer of 69th St. and Am- 
sterdam Avenue. Ned, the oldest son, was the proud 
owner of a new rifle. Standing in the shop one 
day, he made a target of the vane which was plainly 
visible on the church belfry, with such success that 
two holes therein showed the true aim displayed. 
Quite a touse over it among the members resulted. 
Another son was Joe Murphy, the actor. 

Between 68th and 69th Streets lived the Chaudlets 
in a house which had been constructed as a refuge for 
the French emigres of the reign of Louis XVI., on land 
which ran to the river. Most of the furniture was 
massive and built in the house, which remained on its 
site until the laying-out of the Boulevard cut it in half. 
It had a sloping roof stretched over a sort of gallery 
like unto Swiss houses in mountain regions. With 
the mother lived Mme. Chaudlet's son by a former 
marriage, Francis Joseph Felix. His father, a sailor, 
had been drowned in a wild storm off Finisterre. The 
widow, having some relatives in New York, came 
hither with ;her baby son at the dawn of the XIX. 
century. A few years later, she met and married 
Joseph Chaudlet. He was an important character 
in the old village and a man of many talents and re- 
sources. Bom in Marseilles, he met in Paris with Gen. 
Lafayette who found that Joseph was an excellent cook 
and gave him, on leaving France, letters to Fulton and 
Major Golden, which procured him the position of chef 
to Lord Gourtenay, who kept an almost princely house- 
hold at "Glaremont." Ghaudlet exhibited such skill 
in treating the Viscount's horses that he was promoted 
to the post of veterinary surgeon. Afterwards he built 
and managed the Harsenville smithy. His step-son, 
Felix, worked with him, leaming also under his in- 



41 8 Zbc ticvo jporh of l^eeterbai? 

struction the surgical care of horses. He became the 
oracle of the neighborhood. In 1868, Mrs. Greatorex, 
who stopped at the house during her sketching tour 
through Bloomingdale, states that he was a veterinary- 
surgeon with an office at 53d Street, near Eighth 
Avenue. He accompanied her on many of her jaunts. 
She describes him as ' 'not tall, but broad and strongly 
built ; his eyes are very keen and bright, his complexion, 
'browned by the generous sun' is clear and fresh and his 
grey hair thick and curly." His memory harked back 
sixty years and he related stories of the olden times 
when the dread of yellow fever brought people here 
for the summer; and, from hearsay, of the period when 
the cry of "The British are coming" sent frightened 
women and children from Long Island, Brooklyn, and 
the southern end of the city to this section for succor 
from the soldiery. In speaking of the occupants of 
the surrounding country-seats in Colonial times he 
remembered hearing that ' 'these rich gentlemen wore 
the old style of dress — powdered queues and knee- 
breeches, ruffled shirts and silver buckles; and the 
ladies affected powdered hair and beautiful dresses 
of flowered silk and quilted satin petticoats." As of 
course they did, as some of the portraits reproduced 
testify. Felix became a member of the church, April 
27, 1873 and died in 1877. Harriet Baker, the widow 
Purdy, his wife, united May 6, 1853, and died March 19, 
1873, aged 64 years 11 days. They had been married 
by the Rev. Mr. Richmond, July i, 1837, and a number 
of their children were baptized by him. The last child, 
Josephine, was christened in 1859 by Domine van Aken. 
A neat white picket fence between 72nd and 73d 
Streets enclosed a pretty dwelling — ^that built by Mme. 
d'Auliffe — modestly hidden among the shrubbery. 



IRemlniscencee 419 

This was at one time the residence of the Tallcots and 
afterwards of the Loziers. This family came to Har- 
senville in the late forties. The Alderman left an 
impression as a fine old gentleman. He occupied a 
beautiful place, as we have seen, which was open to all 
the inhabitants on holidays. The Fourth of July was 
the great day for enjoyment there. His daughter 
Emma was married in 1838 by the Domine. 

We are approaching a stone wall. It extends from 
73d to 74th Street, and terminates in a large wooden 
arched entrance with a small gate on either side, painted 
to represent stone. There was a broad carriageway 
overshadowed by a row of horse-chestnuts from the 
Bloomingdale Road to the lodge. A narrow walk fol- 
lowed the way on its southern side and both led to the 
N. Y. Orphan Asylum buildings. Persimmon trees 
lined the boundary dividing it from the Gov. Broome 
mansion. Walk in, — one was always welcome. The 
grounds extended from the Road to the river, with a 
gradual slope to the water, where stately trees en- 
hanced the view. The location was a charming one and 
the grounds attractively laid out. The Boulevard 
front was sold circa 1853, and private residences cover 
the green lawn where the orphan children of other days 
sent out shouts of laughter or where the new-comer 
walked with a sad heart, feeling that he was alone in 
the big world. 

How many changes have come to that Home since 
we first remember it. Among the directresses were 
Mrs. Alexander Hamilton, Mrs. Divie Bethune, Mrs. 
Pelatiah Perit. Our memory goes back to the time 
when Mr. Wood was superintendent. He was suc- 
ceeded by Messrs. Stout, Winter, Angel, Stark, Pell, and 
Demorest. Among the teachers were the Misses Hall 



420 TOe mew l?orn of IJesterba^ 

and Ralph and also Miss Marion Dempster, who spent 
nearly all the years of her life inside the walls. And 
when her eyesight failed and, fearing that she might 
be an incumbrance, she begged the lady managers to 
send her to an old ladies' home, the request was 
met by a decided refusal. She was given all the comfort 
and privileges that could be granted, was cared for in 
her last illness and laid at rest in the orphans' plot at 
Trinity Cemetery. When Dr. Winter was superin- 
tendent the Hudson River Railroad was not built. 
Then the institution's bath-house was on the banks 
of the river. It was only necessary for the neighbors 
to call and request that the key might be given to us 
for our use in the early evenings. The request was 
promptly granted. We remember how indignant 
many of us were when Mr. Angel, his successor, in 
reply to our request, uttered the words, "You came with 
the expectation of seeing Dr. Winter." One of our 
party declared that ' 'Winter, stem Winter, was better 
than an Angel." 

On the north side of the Asylum grounds once stood 
a pretty white dwelling with Corinthian columns. In 
summer there was the richest perfume from flowers, 
rare and beautiful. The trees cast their shadows over 
the green lawn, where West End Avenue now passes, 
and the lawn in rear of the house gradually sloped to 
the Hudson. This was the residence of Pelatiah Perit, 
a man well known and much , beloved. Much has 
heretofore been said of him. His carriage was seen 
every morning going to the city, and his coachman 
Michael evidently felt that he was as important a 
personage as his master. He retired from business in 
1 86 1 and thereafter led a life of seclusion and repose. 
About ten days prior to his death, he was taken sud- 



1Remlnl6cence0 42 1 

denly ill in the street and carried into the residence 
of Prof. Silliman, where he remained unconscious until 
morning, when he was conveyed to his own residence. 
This attack culminated in dropsy on the chest. In the 
report of the Trustees of the Asylum for 1864, the 
death of " the excellent and universally respected Mr. 
Perit" is adverted to, ' 'who was so well known in the 
business world as a successful merchant, in the religious 
world as an earnest Christian and in the social circle 
as a kind friend, and who for many years was the near- 
est neighbor of this Institution." He bequeathed one 
thousand dollars to it. Mrs. Perit, on his removal 
to New Haven, dissolved her connection of 25 years 
with the Asylum. The report of i860 states that dur- 
ing this time, being a next-door neighbor, she had al- 
ways been ready to aid and cheer the superintendents 
and to guide and encourage the children. At the 
meetings she was a gentle, generous friend and counsel- 
lor. The pleasant strawberry festivals that the inmates 
enjoyed with each returning year on Mr. Perit's grounds, 
and which formed the chief era in their annual anticipa- 
tions, were recalled. In one especial case, he showed a 
liberal interest in a girl inmate who had a promising 
voice and a great love of music, and furnished the 
means for the improvement of her natural gift. The 
tribute winds up, " We shall long miss the loss of Mr. 
Perit's kind presence and efforts." The shipping in the 
harbor displayed their flags at half-mast in honor 
of his memory, and measures were taken by the mer- 
chants of the city to properly mark the loss which his 
death had entailed upon the community. The foreign 
missionary received a warm welcome in Mr. Perit's 
home and many a devoted servant of God has found 
shelter under that roof, among them the Rev. John 



422 zbc "Mew l^ork of IJeeterba^ 

Scudder, D.D., Rev. Myron Winslow, Rev. Dr. Spaul- 
ding, and Rev. John Dulles. 

We will leave the Perit residence and return by way 
of the Asylum grounds, for there was a gateway 
between the two. Again we are on the broad roadway 
and pass the cottage of John Wood, who resided within 
the grounds. He was the leader of the church choir 
and had business relations with the Asylum. Although 
his name was the same as that of the superintendent, 
they were not related. Beyond it, on our left, is some- 
thing that appears like a large black tombstone. One 
might ask, "Who lies buried here?" "Five Miles 
from New York" is the only reply. It marked the 
distance from the present City Hall, and stood 
silently resting in the wall. We who lived in the 
neighborhood became so accustomed to it that we 
scarcely gave it a glance as we drew near to the resi- 
dence of the Kellys. Here lived a large family at one 
time, but consumption came into the home, and one 
after another was carried off, until it seemed as if the 
survivors were always dressed in mourning. It was 
very sad to see the young people reach manhood and 
womanhood only to meet the grim destroyer. But it 
matters little now to the mourners, for they are sweetly 
sleeping side by side, in Trinity Cemetery. 

Between 75th and 76th Streets there stood an old red 
brick building. This was the Somerindyck house of 
Colonial history. It was known now as ' ' Fisher's 
house." The Fisher family lived there many years and 
their garden became their cemetery. Joseph Henry 
Fisher and his wife, who had previously lived on the 
"Middle Road," became residents there in 1826-7. 
With them lived Mary Johnston, the wife's sister, whom 
Domine van Aken married to Joseph Henry Adams in 



1Remlnlscencc6 423 

1838. They removed from Bloomingdale to Brooklyn, 
where her husband was Supervisor from the Thir- 
teenth Ward of the old city and died in 1887. Mrs. 
Adams was one of the oldest residents at the date of 
her death, February 22, 1906, aged 75 years. She left 
surviving her a daughter, Mrs. Josephine A. Coombs, 
and a son, Austin Adams, besides eighteen grand- 
children and fifteen great-grandchildren. During her 
girlhood in Bloomingdale the house was surroimded 
by an acre and a half of ground; large locusts shaded 
the front and elms grew in the rear, with English 
cherry-trees in the garden. At the end of the lane on 
the Gassner place were summer-houses overlooking the 
river, which were a resort for the young people on 
summer evenings. A break in the fence line in the 
picture of this house shown on page 56 indicates the 
entrance to the lane. In after years, when the old 
building was crumbling and vacant, reports were cir- 
culated that it was haunted, but no one ever met the 
ghosts, and the story died out. It was a quaint old 
building. The hall-door was divided in half and 
either the upper or lower part might be opened or 
closed at pleasure. A great black knocker gave notice 
of a caller. The hall was very broad and the parlors 
were on each side. The mantels were high and broad 
and curiously carved with historical pictures. The 
windows were small, and the panes were tiny squares 
of glass, such as were very much used in old times. 
Some of the "oldest inhabitants" aver that before 
No. 9 schoolhouse was built (1827) in 82d St. this was 
the village school. In the latteV part of the forties, 
Barak C. Wright and Margaret Fake, his wife, lived 
there. They had been married by Domine van Aken 
in 1838. Miss EHza Wright was one of the choir, with 



424 ^be 1Revo l?ork of IJeaterbai? 

John Wood, in the village church. Leaving the 
Fisher house we cross Perit's lane and midway between 
75th and 76th Streets pass the Cudlipp residence. 
They were Episopalians. Henry Reuben, son of Reu- 
ben Henry Cudlipp and Mary Esther McMann, his wife, 
bom June, 1851, was baptized Dec. 26, 1852, at St. 
Michael's. The father was interred in Trinity Cemetery, 
June 17, 1858, aged 63. His daughter Hannah Eliza- 
beth, bom in Philadelphia, aged 27, was married to 
Duncan Macfarlan, aged 35, by the Rev. Thomas Mc- 
Clure Peters, on Oct. i, 1857, at her father's residence. 
Macfarlan was a Scotchman. His silk mills were on 
the site of All Angels' church. West End Avenue and 
8ist Street. It is claimed that he made the first silk 
ribbons in this countr3^ Both he and his first wife 
joined the Church at Harsenville, Feb. 4, 1853. He 
became Deacon Feb., 1854, and served as Clerk pro tern. 
on occasions. The Consistory met as usual at his 
house in its rotation among the members. Martha 
and Duncan, their children, were baptized by Domine 
van Aken in 1853, and John in 1854. Their mother 
died in May, 1857. On his second marriage he resigned 
his office and removed his business and residence to 
Hawthorne, N. J. (near Paterson), where he died Oct. 
II, 1886, aged 64 years. His daughter Martha became, 
July 23, 1873, the wife of Robert William, son of 
Adam Thompson, who was bom Oct. 31, and baptized 
at St. Michael's, Nov. 30, 1837. She joined the com- 
munion May 5, 1866, and took letter of dismission to 
the Park Presbyterian Church. Malcolm Macfarlan, the 
eldest child, became a member Aug. i, 1857. He is a 
physician practising his profession in Philadelphia and 
is an active member of the Swedenborgian Church, 
which he joined in 1868. He married Hannah Dick 



^^fr ift 




Portrait and signature of Duncan Macfarlan, Esq., reproduced by courtesy 
of his daughter Mrs. Robert W. Thompson 



IRemlnlscencee 425 

the following year and was head surgeon in the Phil- 
adelphia Hospital for many years. Mary Macfarlan, 
another daughter, became a member May 2, 1863, and 
took letter of dismissal to the Park Presbyterian 
Church, She never married. The other sons were 
Duncan and John, who were both physicians. The 
latter died Feb. 9, 1885, aged 30. 

A few steps north of the Cudlipps', we enter the little 
store kept by Aleck White. We recall the old-fashioned 
candies to be found there. Candies change their fashion 
as well as does dress. We take out a cent, a great 
copper piece, somewhat larger than our present quar- 
ter dollar, and look over the supply — " buUseyes," 
chocolate balls, "hundreds and thousands," cylindrical 
papers with a gold band of paper twisted around, con- 
taining tiny globules, each having an aromatic seed 
inside. We would hesitate for a moment, then seize 
a chocolate ball in haste, because we heard the school 
bell and we feared the consequence if it ceased before 
we reached the door. Running over an elevation, 
dignified by the title of " hill," we saw a small cottage 
where lived the widow McCarthy and then reached the 
next store, kept by Jacob Tripp. When Fernando 
Wood became Mayor, he took possession of the ground 
where these three last-named houses stood, and turned 
it into an immense lawn and drive. He had his resi- 
dence on the site of the widow McCarthy's house. 

Next came Bumham's. It stood some distance 
from the road and the pleasure-seeker turned off into 
the circle that led to the hotel. There could be no mis- 
take about it, for the sign swinging prominently in the 
air caught the eye of the passing traveller and the pic- 
ture of the house thereon with the large letters " Bum- 
ham's Mansion House " left no doubt on his mind. We 



426 ^be flew IPorl; of l^ester^ai? 

well remember the old homestead and the pump that 
we often drank from on our return from school, and 
also the pitchers that were emptied there which had 
contained the half-lemons. What a scampering there 
was among the school children when they saw the man 
coming down holding that pitcher. We fear the 
lemons sometimes contained something stronger than 
lemon-juice. But the temperance people were not so 
strong in the middle of the last century. Governor van 
den Heuvel imported from Holland the necessary brick 
and timber to build the old mansion. As Gen. Wash- 
ington had some connection with every old landmark, 
so, of course, he is stated to have occupied this house. 
Another legend is that a British officer, wounded in the 
contest on Bloomingdale Heights, died therein. The 
large Dutch weather-vane which once ornamented the 
bam now indicates the direction of the wind upon the 
stables of William Waldorf Astor's English estate. 

Leaving Bumham's, we pass a few cottages. The 
first is a variety store where Mrs. Kervan tempts the 
children with molasses candy. Another cottage was 
occupied by Reuben Cudlipp and family. Poor man! 
His eyes were closed to earthly sights; we hope they 
have long since gazed upon the King in His beauty. 
Several cottages were seen back from the roadside and 
at the comer of present 8ist Street a large brick build- 
ing for the times, stood, in which lived Tom Kerr. This 
ended the confines of Harsenville and we will retrace 
our steps. The east side of the Bloomingdale Road was 
but sparsely settled. At 75th Street Charles Darke's 
family resided. This house was afterward occupied by 
William Leggett and still later by a Mr. Bonesteel, 
who kept a grocery at the comer of 74th Street. Then 
came a triangular field extending to 7 ist Street. About 



IReminiscencce 427 

1849, "the Tenth Avenue, which heretofore had ended 
at the Road and formed a junction, was now extended 
to 86th Street and cut through this field. A large open 
space from 71st to 73d Streets was also divided when 
7 2d Street was opened. A stream of water, which 
afforded much pleasure to the boys and men when 
frozen over in winter, ran across this field and thence 
through and under a bridge to the Road. 

Seventy-fourth Street was only a lane leading in an 
easterly direction. It commenced opposite the Asylum. 
On the left and facing the fields (for Tenth Avenue had 
not appeared) was the residence of the Weir family. 
Next lived Mrs. Elizabeth Darke, and next William 
Holmes, Jr. On the right was a large old-fashioned 
house at that time (183 9) having no occupant. After- 
wards Captain Harvey moved into it and resided there 
several years. Entering a gateway, we are at the 
Hanaway home. This is where they lived for seventeen 
years after leaving the parsonage. Where the Ele- 
vated road passes between 73d and 74th Streets, was 
the back garden. It was here, in the springtime, after 
school hours were over, we searched for the early 
violet, the wild convolvulus, the frail anemone, the 
brilliant wild pink, and the wild strawberry. Later, 
we gathered the luscious blackberry or raspberry that 
grew on yonder hills. Dear old home! How sacred 
are its memories ! What happy hours were spent un- 
der that roof ! 

From the chamber, clothed in white, 

The bride went forth on her wedding night, 

but never during the long years the family resided there 
did death break the circle. The house stood on an 



428 Zhc IRew l?ork of l?e6tert)ap 

elevation and from the front windows a full view^of 
the surroundings was had. 

At the comer of 71st Street (Harsenville Road) stood 
the pretty dwelling of William Holmes, Sr. He and 
his wife lived there many years and all his children, 
five sons and three daughters, were bom there. His 
oldest son, William, lived on 74th Street. He brought 
his bride to this house soon after marriage and all their 
children were also bom there. This family for more 
than seventy years have been identified with the Bloom- 
ingdale Church. The grandparents, William B. Holmes 
and Hannnah Stanton, his wife, were married there 
during the ministry of Dr. Gunn. The husband died 
in 1843, ^^d had been an Elder during the early tenure 
of Domine van Aken. His children and grandchildren 
continued to attend the services until death or removal 
prohibited. A few have until lately been connected 
therewith, but the greater number are asleep in Trinity 
Cemetery, where nearly all Harsenville lies. Nathaniel 
Holmes, a son, and his wife Rebecca celebrated the 
50th anniversary of their married life on Jan. 25, 1897, 
and on the same occasion took place the 25th anniver- 
sary of the marriage of their eldest daughter, Rebecca, 
and her husband Davis Conkling. Nathaniel Holmes 
and his wife began their life together in the homestead. 
After their second daughter was bom, they removed 
to Harlem, and afterwards to Long Island. 

At 68th Street stood the old stone church, hallowed 
with endearing associations. 

So let my living be, so be my dying, 

So let my name be, unblazoned, unknown, 

Unpraised and unmissed, I shall still be remembered, 
Yes, but remembered by what I have done. 

So wrote Horatius Bonar and so speaks the life of 



1Remln!6cence0 429 

many a humble Christian. As you walk up the aisle 
of one of our beautiful churches and take your seat in 
yonder comfortable pew, as you listen to the thrilling 
notes of the organ or to the words falling from the 
lips of some elegant divine, does the question ever 
arise, "Who was the founder of this edifice?" The 
Bloomingdale Reformed Church owes its life to Jacob 
Harsen. Looking to the west, some distance back 
from Tenth Avenue, between 70th and 71st Streets, 
there was located not very long ago an old house with 
the gable end to the street. Here Jacob Harsen lived 
and died. He it was who gave the ground for the 
church and parsonage. Does he look down to-day and 
see the result of his beneficence? What if he could 
see the neighborhood that was so stagnant for many 
years that a deacon of the Church once remarked that 
he believed there was a curse on Bloomingdale ? The 
old home has been crumbling for a generation and so 
has his dust. But when the Day of Reckoning comes, 
we believe Jacob Harsen will find many jewels in his 
crown of rejoicing, brought through the means he used, 
and they with him will sing Redeeming Love forever. 

The parish covered much territory with few habita- 
tions. Dr. Gtmn was known to have stated that it 
reached from Kip's Bay to the Hudson and from 9th to 
125th Street. Its size was not much reduced during 
Domine van Aken's ministry. His long term was 
broken about 1845 ^"^^ ^ y^^^ *^^ more. Stricken with 
hemorrhage of the lungs — ^the " affliction" he mentions 
in his quoted letter — ^he went to Florida. During his 
absence, the pulpit was supplied by the Rev. Mr. 
Robinson and the Rev. Cornelius Vermeule. To 
quote the diary : 

I was a very little girl and great was my reverence for 



43° ^be 1Rew ^ov\{ of IPesterba^ 

this venerable man [Dr. Vermeule] as he walked through our 
grounds. This he frequently did, as he boarded with Mrs. 
Elizabeth Darke, only two houses distant. Our family was 
very large, and the congregation small. This led the Doctor 
to remark that we were the largest part of the congrega- 
tion, as we sometimes occupied two pews. Father and I 
often started off together, as I was the youngest of the 
family. Great was my feeling of importance when Dr. 
Vermeule would overtake us and remark, "Well, sister, are 
you leading papa to church?" There was often a merry 
twinkle of the eye and much humor, notwithstanding the 
dignity of his office . Clergymen , as well as others , wore stocks 
in those days, which had a tendency to elevate the head, 
and the white neckerchief gave the Domine a very digni- 
fied appearance. He officiated at the wedding of my sister, 
May 5, 1845. After the ceremony was over and we were 
all seated — many of our intimate friends being present — 
there was quiet for a few moments. The bride was young, 
only eighteen years of age, and there was a sadness in 
leaving the old home. I think Dr. Vermeule realized this. 
He looked solemnly over the circle and then soberly re- 
marked, "If there are any other persons waiting I am 
ready to do the same for them." This broke up the sober 
company and laughter took the place of tears. 

The Domine once visited a member of the congrega- 
tion who was regarded as a very parsimonious woman. 
As he looked at her well-loaded grape vine, he congratu- 
lated her upon her future prospects. ' 'Well, Domine, " 
she said, ' 'if you will come down when they are ripe, I 
will give you some." At the appointed season, the 
good Doctor visited her, with basket in hand. " She 
brought one bunch and placed it in my hand and that 
was the end of the chapter," said he in relating the 
experience. It was told with the same merry twinkle 
of the eye, accompanied with the same dignity of 



' »^rv.¥;,v 




1Remlnl0cencc0 431 

bearing. He was a warm-hearted Christian gentleman. 
We never remember hearing one unkind word spoken 
of him. It is said that just as he was about to enter 
Heaven he exclaimed, " My kindred ! " 

Because of the prevalence of fever-and-ague, Domine 
van Aken refused to live in the parsonage. After the 
place had been somewhat improved, he spent the 
winter there. Standing on our back piazza on an 
evening when the moon was hidden, very frequently 
we saw a tall figure in a long cloak which reached to 
the feet, a large white comforter wrapped around the 
throat and mouth, a lantern in hand, wending his way 
through the thick brushwood , where the Elevated 
road now stands. It was our pastor on his way to a 
prayer meeting at the residence of one of his congrega- 
tion. Some of these meetings continued to be held in 
the Harsen Mansion while John Freeman and Mary, 
his wife, lived there in the late thirties. Their daugh- 
ter Emma was baptized by the Domine in 1841. 
Another daughter, Alice, became the wife of Richard 
Stout. With no sidewalks, no graded roads, and no 
lights to shine on the pathway, we were delighted when 
gas was lit for the first time from 59th to 86th Street, 
April I, 1857. 

There were several large square pews in the centre 
and side aisles. One on the south side was occupied 
by the Hon. Pelatiah Perit and family. In the middle 
aisle sat Mrs. Samuel A. Lawrence with her widowed 
daughter and granddaughters. The daughter was 
married by the Domine in 1846 to Wilson G. Hunt and 
a granddaughter became the wife of the Rev. Mr. 
Atwater. One on the other side of the middle aisle 
was owned by Maj.-Gen. Striker, and here his family 
of sons sat when they did not belong to the choir. On 



432 Zl)c Bew l?orft of IJeeterbaij 

either side of the church were the children of the 
Orphan Asylum, the boys on the right of the pulpit 
and the girls on the south. At this time there was no 
organ or other musical instrument and the singing was 
led by Mr. and Mrs. John Wood and the Misses Wright. 
Wood stoves were in use, and these the sexton some- 
times neglected to feed. Mrs. van Aken was accus- 
tomed to bring a warming-pan. The stovepipes ran 
along the wall to the pulpit, where elbows branched to 
the north and south sides. Hinges were fastened to 
the partition along the centre aisle of pews in front of 
the platform to which the long table was affixed on 
communion Sundays. In this way the method in- 
augurated by the Master was literally followed. The 
ceiling had nine large circles to indicate where chan- 
deliers should hang. They were, however, never in- 
troduced. The auditorium was very large. Two 
pairs of stairs led to the high pulpit fitted with doors 
that buttoned-in the officiating minister. The Elders 
and Deacons sat on either side below the platform. In 
early times, the scholars at Huddard's, Bansel's, and 
Ufford's schools attended, just as at this time the 
orphans did. The grounds, enclosed by a picket 
fence, with two gates, one for carriages and one for pe- 
destrians, were surrounded by the cemetery, and the 
edifice was fronted by a pretty lawn prior to 1856, at 
which time the Bloomingdale Road was graded, the 
lawn disappearing in the process. There was no clock 
in the steeple, as has been erroneously stated. Instead, 
windows filled the circular openings on its four sides. 
No lights of any kind were ever used with the exception 
of a few special occasions, when candles and lamps were 
loaned by neighbors. All evening meetings were held 
either at the Asylum or in the houses of members. 



1Remlnl0ccnce0 433 

Among the teachers in the Sabbath-school was Miss 
Harriet Lothrop Winslow, a descendant of one of the 
Mayflower families. An interesting account of her 
mother, and her trials and perseverance in that kind 
of work, is given in Dr. H. Clay Trumbull's Yale 
Lectures on the Sabbath-school, p. 127. Her father 
was the Rev. Myron Winslow, a well-known missionary 
in Ceylon, India. Their daughter Harriet was bom in 
Oodooville, Ceylon, April 19, 1829. Her mother died 
when she was four years old and she was brought to 
America by her father and adopted by Mr. Perit. Dur- 
ing the summer of 1848, she announced to her class of 
about twenty young girls, varying in age from fourteen 
to sixteen years, that she was to be married. Tears fell 
from the scholars' eyes, while the teacher retired to a 
distant pew, to hide her emotion. Her heart, though 
full of joy for the future, was conscious that many 
sacred ties must be severed, and not the least among 
them was that which botmd her to her beloved class. 
This event took place Sept. 21, 1848. Her husband, 
Rev. John Welsh Dulles of Philadelphia, was a graduate 
of Yale and of Union Theological Seminary. On Oct. 
loth of that year they started for their new field of 
labor at Madras, India. They went out under the 
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 
"You are taking a short road to Heaven," was the 
prediction of a gentleman friend before she started, 
and so it proved. 

We remember well her kind, genial face. Sometimes 
the class would enjoy a social gathering on the lawn at 
the beautiful residence on the banks of the Hudson, or 
a quiet walk in the garden, when the young teacher 
would call attention to some foreign plant. Then 
came the summons to the parlor to partake of re- 

28 



434 ^be *WevD l?orft of jpeaterba^ 

freshments. Again, it was our happiness to receive a 
call from her at our home, when she would relate some 
pleasing incidents of her visits among the members of 
her class, or to an aged saint who was " only waiting," 
Little wonder that there was great regret in the 
village when her departure for India was announced. 
She returned with her husband and three sons to the 
residence of her foster father, March 14, 1853, much 
broken in health. We called to see her in her child- 
hood's home. Two little boys were playing near her 
chair; a third was in the arms of the nurse. These 
children were John Welsh, Charles Winslow, and Perit. 
Soon after, the family left for Philadelphia. Her 
husband became Secretary of the American Sunday- 
school Union from 1853-7, when he accepted the posi- 
tion of Editorial-Secretary of the Presbyterian Board 
of Publication. In the month of May, after their return, 
a fourth son, Joseph Heatly, was bom. He is a min- 
ister of the Gospel and librarian of Princeton Seminary. 
A fifth son, Allen Macy, is also a clergyman; a sixth, 
Winslow, died in infancy; a seventh, William, is now 
Treasurer of the Board of Foreign Missions of the 
Presbyterian Church, and a daughter, Anna Stille, was 
bom later, making eight children in all. In 1873, 
Mr. Dulles wrote: "I am happy to say that the six 
sons of my wife, Harriet L. Winslow, are all members in 
full of the Presbyterian Church and, to some degree, 
honoring their ancestry by their lives." Their mother 
took the "short road to Heaven" as predicted, Sept. 
I, 1 86 1, at the early age of 32 years. 

Miss Harriet Oilman, a niece of Mr. Perit's, was 
another teacher. Her class met in the southeast 
comer of the Church. She lived at her uncle's house 
and began teaching when fifteen years of age. Other 



IRcmlnieccnces 435 

nephews and nieces who often visited there were 
Prof. Daniel Oilman, former president of Johns Hop- 
kins, the Rev. Edward Oilman of Flushing, L.I., WilHam 
Oilman, Miss Emily Serena Oilman and the wife of Dr. 
J. P. Thompson, at one time pastor of the Broadway 
Tabernacle. Harriet Oilman married Oeorge W. Lane. 
Lovely and pleasant in girlhood, she developed into a 
ripened Christian character. She passed from earth in 
1 88 1 and sleeps in Woodlawn. Although none of these 
united, they were often present in the sanctuary. 
Mr. Lane later married his wife's youngest sister. 
From letters received from the sisters, we make some 
quotations. Mrs. Lane writes: 

My recollections of the church are merely the childish 
pictures gained during my occasional visits, and are closely 
blended with the delightful home life in Mr. Perit's hos- 
pitable house ; the Sunday morning walk under the shady 
avenue of the Asylum grounds and the less agreeable 
dusty road, which on a Sunday afternoon seemed really 
perilous because of the fast horses recklessly driven up to 
Burnham's tavern; the procession of orphans in uniform 
dress, the girls with winter coats of gray followed in sum- 
mer by white capes, their straw bonnets and blue ribbons, 
I do not remember so much about the boys. They sat 
on the other side of the church. It was always interesting 
to see the girls file in under the direction of a teacher or 
monitor, and I used to wonder how it was determined who 
should sit in each pew. I suppose I did not listen very 
attentively to the sermon, but it was entertaining when 
Domine van Aken announced an evening meeting to be 
held at the house of "Mistress Cozine," and when he 
gave notice of his intention to make pastoral calls during 
the following week, particularly requesting that he might 
see the children, I felt much alarmed and took pains to 
hide in a remote place when he came to my aunt's house, 



436 ZTbe IRew BorFi of IJesterbai? 

lest he should ask me personal questions of an uncomfort- 
able nature! All this is very trivial, but I cannot give you 
anything of importance. 

Miss Gilman says: 

We were never especially encouraged to linger among 
the old gravestones. There was a marble tablet on the 
wall of the vestibule (perhaps more than one) , the first such 
memorial I had ever seen. I recall the square pews where 
the Perit family sat, and where the Sunday-school classes 
of my sister and cousin met. I think there were green cur- 
tains in front of the singers' gallery and that Mr. Reed's 
two daughters were in the choir. My aunt and uncle were 
never members of the church, but retained their connection 
with the Mercer Street Church, occasionally driving into 
town to attend the services. I remember one communion 
Sunday when Mr. Perit and Miss Winslow took their seats 
at the table. I had never seen any one but the clergyman 
seated at the communion table. Mr. Perit often found a 
supply for the pulpit, inviting the preacher to be his guest — 
sometimes the teachers from the Deaf and Dumb Asylum 
at Fiftieth Street, sometimes the venerable Dr. Philip 
Milledoller. Dr. Vermeule also supplied the pulpit — 
perhaps for a stated period — and I always heard him 
mentioned as "good old Dr. Vermeule." Miss Winslow 
and other faithful workers were "tract-distributors" and 
did what they could to encourage churchgoing and to 
gather in children for the Sunday-school. Occasionally 
people came to church from a distance in their carriages 
and were treated with much consideration — an old lady, 
Mrs. Meier, and some of the Striker family. I remember 
the lane with the sign "Striker's Bay," Madam Striker 
was spoken of emphatically as a very good woman. My 
impressions were partly from the conversation of my elders, 
and partly from what was told me by a child of my own 
age, my cousin Miss Joanna Perry. 






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5 _ t* 

CO o '^ 

o S ^ 

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M 



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IReminisccncee 437 

At the time of which we speak missionary work was 
carried on in a different manner to what it is now. The 
city was divided into wards and the wards into dis- 
tricts. Every ward had a city missionary. It was 
his duty to district his ward, find a tract-distributor 
for each district, and every month carry a package of 
tracts to the visitor, who, in turn, was expected to 
visit every house, none excepted, and leave a tract. 
He or she was to ascertain if the resident attended any 
church, without regard to denomination, and to invite 
the children to Sabbath-school and open religious 
conversation. 

In March, 1854, a meeting was held at Mrs. Kelly's 
to organize an association to conduct a fair. The 
young people had been working hard for a year past 
for the purpose of renovating the Church. Mrs. van 
Aken was chosen president, Mrs. Fleet vice-president, 
Miss Mary Kelly secretary, and Miss Emily S. Hanaway 
treasurer. An empty store and the back rooms of 
two new white marble buildings, the entrance known 
as No. 679 Broadway, second door below Amity Street, 
were hired and the bazaar held there on Dec. 20th, 
2ist, and 22d. Mrs. Dana, Mrs. Daniel D. Nash, and Mrs. 
William Holmes were in charge, with Miss Hanaway as 
treasurer. Mrs. Dana's little daughter presided over 
the grab-bag. At the close of the fair, the goods left 
over were auctioned off. The auctioneer, hearing that 
Mr. Striker had made a bid on a certain object, asked 
Mrs. Dana, "Which Mr. Striker?" and received the 
reply "Mr. Ambrose Striker," at which the auctioneer 
remarked naively, "Ah, you mean the one with his 
eyebrows under his nose" — meaning a moustache, which 
then was practically unknown, and considered, at the 
best, decidedly outre. The enterprise was a grand 



438 ITbe 1Revp l?ork of ipesterbap 

success, and. with the proceeds the pulpit was lowered, 
the box pews removed, and the seats made comfortable. 
A large room back of the gallery and over the vestibule 
was thrown open and an organ, situated directly oppo- 
site the pulpit, installed. The bell-rope descended 
through this room, and Domine van Aken kept his 
delivered sermons there. When the building, in its 
new dress, was opened for divine service, Jan. 6, 1856, 
such a deep snow was on the ground that Dr. De Witt, 
who was expected, was unable to be present and the 
afternoon service was abandoned. A change in the 
administration of the communion was made at this 
time. Theretofore, members sat around the long table 
and partook of the elements. This was now abolished, 
and communicants retained their places in the pews. 

We have in distinct remembrance the old burial 
ground, with its large public vault on the southeast 
side and the plot of ground set apart for the friendless 
orphans of the Asylum. The visitor to Trinity Ceme- 
tery will see a monument with the name of Jacob 
Harsen inscribed on it. This stone was removed when 
the Church was cut in two for the grading of the 
Boulevard. This thoroughfare, by the way, received 
its name under the Act of 1870. The memorial stood 
in the rear of the edifice and had an iron railing around 
it. We well remember the little grave with a white 
railing, where Josiah Hoyt, the son of the principal of 
8 2d Street School, was buried. How reverently his 
associates walked around the resting-place of their little 
school-fellow! There Mrs. Lamb, the mother of the 
brothers herein above mentioned, was interred. We 
recall her mild and gentle ways, and how sad we were 
when, after a long illness, she passed away. 

The anniversaries of the Sabbath-school were held 



IRemlniecencee 439 

at different places. One year, it would take place in 
the Church, to be followed the next time at other 
churches. On one such occasion in the home Church, 
we have a digest of Domine van Aken's brief conclud- 
ing address in which he expressed his gratitude for the 
assemblage present, the praise due the school, the 
teachers, and the children, and for the addresses and 
music; and added that, although the toils and sacri- 
fices and self-denials in maintaining the Church through 
the trying years of the past, arising from the transition 
and absorption of the suburb by the city, had been 
great, he was so attached to the field of his labor, had so 
great a work to perform and such bright prospects 
arising before him that he would not exchange the 
sphere of his operations for any within the range of the 
denomination. So large a company of children as 
were gathered was rarely witnessed in a single church. 
They ranged through all ranks, from the highest in the 
community to the most humble. The Rev. Drs. 
Ferris and De Witt were present, as they often were at 
these celebrations, and spoke. 

During the second week of May, 1850 (Anniversary 
Week) , the children took stages and rode to Dr. Chee- 
ver's church for the exercises. On May 9, 1854, they 
marched in procession to 49th Street and Eighth Ave- 
nue. Here cars were taken to the Broadway Tab- 
ernacle, which stood on that thoroughfare between 
Leonard and Worth Streets. The building was well 
filled and the children of the Five Points Mission were 
present. Messrs. Collin and Pease addressed them. 
The anniversary of 1857 was held in the home Church, 
when upwards of three hundred children assembled. 
Their sweet singing, coupled with the happy remarks 
of the Rev. E. R. Atwater, the Rev. Theodore L. 



440 Zbc 1Rew 13ork of l?e0ter^a^ 

Cuyler, Hon. Thomas Jeremiah, and George Conover, 
Esq, carried the occasion through with credit. The 
annual picnic of this year took place on the grounds of 
Robert H. Arkenburgh, who generously tendered their 
use and provided the music. The teachers and schol- 
ars met at the Church at 12 noon on a beautiful June 
day and, preceded by the band, marched to the grove 
at the foot of 68th Street. A newspaper clipping before 
us states that 

a more beautiful spot for a picnic cannot, we venture to 
say, be found within fifty miles of New York. The children 
enjoyed themselves to their fullest capacity. The teachers, 
parents, and friends of the school present also entered 
fully into the spirit of the occasion. A table groaning with 
the weight of "good things" was spread under the trees, 
and of these all partook with a hearty relish. At 3 p.m., the 
school was assembled, and, after prayer, and singing 
by the children, addresses were delivered by Mr. Pardie of 
the Sunday-school Union, the Rev. M. B. Matchett, and 
the pastor. The speeches were happy and appropriate and 
were listened to with the most fixed attention. Every- 
thing passed off pleasantly and all went home highly 
gratified. 

Up to 1853 no more charming spot than Bloomingdale 
could be found. Then suddenly there came a change. 
Squatters came, and from 59th to 68th Street, west of 
the Road, there were miniature farms. The shanty 
had its pig, its cows, its chickens, its ducks, its geese, 
and it was "a quack here and a quack-quack there and 
here a quack and there a quack and here and there a 
quack" as one walked along. Sometimes an infuriated 
old gander would follow and pounce upon one, or a 
yelping dog. These dogs were kept as beasts of burden. 
In the early winter mornings, a small cart with two 



IReminiscences 441 

dogs or more — and frequently a woman took the place 
of the dog and pulled the cart — was to be seen going 
from house to house collecting cinders. These were 
taken to their shanties, well sifted and dampened and 
carried arotmd to be sold at twenty-five cents a barrel. 
These quotations from Mrs. Stryker's journal will 
fix dates: 

Feb. 20, 1854. A bitter cold day. Wind high. Snow 
commenced and continued all night. One of the drivers 
of the Bloomingdale stage line was killed by losing the road 
and the stage was overturned at about 66th Street. 

May 26, 1854. During a meeting of the Sewing Society 
an eclipse of the sun was witnessed. 

Nov. 3, 1854. Mother and I have been to the funeral of 
Miss Rachel Cozine, held in the church. Domine van Aken 
and Dr. Winter of the Asylum, a Baptist minister, officiated. 
For forty-five years she has been a member and had just 
passed her 80th year. She united when there were but 
twenty in the membership (1809). She was buried at 
Trinity Cemetery, Early candle light services were often 
held at her home. 

July 2, 1855. Fair and Festival held at Knickerbocker 
Hall, 2 2d St. and Eighth Avenue. Very successful. 

July 22, 1855. A choir of young people formed. Mr. 
Bunting led the singing. Thirteen members in the morning 
and fifteen in the afternoon. We were in the habit of 
meeting at the Asylum the first Sunday in each month for 
monthly concert for missions. 

Aug. 5, 1856. The death of George Parks at Stamford, 
Conn., was announced from the pulpit. Funeral Monday 
the 6th. 

A number of former inmates of the Asylum enlisted 
in the Civil War. The Trustees' report of 1863 gives 
thanks that not one of the five in the 12th N. Y. Vol- 
unteers and of the many scattered in other regiments 



442 zi)c IRew l?orft of jpesterba^ 

had been killed or seriously wounded, although they 
had been in some of the most fearful battles. This im- 
munity did not continue. Two members of the Church 
of whom we know were killed in action. One Joseph 
Turkington, an orphan brought up in the institution, 
was fatally shot. He had united only a short space 
prior to the firing on Fort Sumter, viz. Aug. 4, i860. 
The other was George H. Pimley, who, with his wife 
Ann Humphrey, joined the communion Jan. 31, 1862. 
He had served as Deacon. 

Miss Emily Hanaway's Bible class was broken up by 
the war. Their country called the members and they 
must leave home. One went in the nay>^ never to 
return. He was drowned soon after his departure. 
Another was not heard from until after the war clouds 
dispersed. Then he came suddenly to his former 
teacher's door, like one who had risen from the dead, 
to tell of the agonies in Anderson ville prison. This 
was John Miller, whose two brothers Joseph and Frank 
went west, one to die in California. The other still 
survives and resides in Kansas. Another member 
died of typhoid fever, while still another is an in- 
structor in the army. Others have gone, we know not 
where. Perhaps at some future day they may sud- 
denly call on their teacher, as have John Miller and 
John Ray. Each boy as he started off, saying " Fare- 
well," received from her hands a little Testament. 
Letters came frequently and told of their success, but 
the class was discontinued, never again to meet as 
before. 

The war had ended. The terrible conflict between 
the sections was over and the nation was rejoicing. 
The old Church must show its enthusiasm and therefore 
must have a flag. Mr. James Tyler agreed to give the 



IReminlscences 443 

material if the ladies would put it together. We were 
invited to meet at the residence of Mrs. Nash, at 6ist 
Street and Tenth Avenue for the purpose. How well 
we remember that home. It was a lovely spot, sur- 
rounded by beautiful grounds, where summer-houses, 
rustic seats and shade trees invited you to come in and 
rest awhile. Busy fingers had almost completed the 
flag when the question arose as to the proper persons 
to raise it. At last, it was decided that two young 
girls should be selected, one to represent the God- 
dess of Liberty and the other America. Miss Rebecca 
Nash was selected for the former and Miss Mary Amelia 
Tyler, the daughter of the donor of the flag, for the 
latter. 

On the appointed day, we all assembled on the 
Bloomingdale Road, directly opposite the Church. 
At a given signal the young girls appeared, very 
prettily arrayed, and took the ends of the cords in their 
hands. Higher and higher it rose and, as the colors of 
"Old Glory" fluttered in the air, the people watched 
it with breathless silence. At last it settled near the 
steeple, and one loud burst of enthusiasm rent the air. 
We remember one old bronzed and weather-beaten sol- 
dier who shouted so long and heartily, almost turning 
somersaults in his delight, that the people turned to 
look at him and almost forgot the flag. 

Years passed away; time brought many changes. 
Mr. Nash failed in business and removed from the 
neighborhood and we lost all trace of the family. 
Mr. Tyler and his daughter are sleeping in Trinity 
Cemetery, the wife and mother in Hastings, England. 
Occasionally we met a lady, apparently a stranger, 
who had become unsettled in her church relationship 
and who was introduced as Mrs. Deas. She would 



444 tTbe 1Rew l?ork of l?C6terbai? 

sometimes come quietly into the Thirty- fourth St. 
Reformed Church, and, not being acquainted, would 
speak to few and then pass on. At one time one of the 
ladies spoke of her as her cousin and then began to 
describe her former home. She told us of the loss of 
property and the husband's death ; how she had married 
again, etc. We then found that the stranger was our 
friend of former days. Time had changed us both. 
We had other names and our appearance was not the 
same as in our young lives and neither had recognized 
the other. When next we met, we sat down beside 
her and asked, "Do you remember the names of the 
young ladies who raised the flag on the Bloomingdale 
Church?" She looked up in surprise. Old times 
came back; old scenes were recalled. The daughter 
Rebecca had married and was living in the far West. 
Very few are left who were present on that eventful 
day. 

Some have felt that Domine van Aken was to be 
blamed for his pertinacity in holding on to the church 
property ; others, that he should be commended for his 
foresight, having in the end brought about the present 
results as evidenced by the elegant edifice now in use. 
However this may have been, great credit is due some- 
where and the Lord will pardon what may have been 
wrong. The Domine inspired a profound feeling of 
love and respect. He was indeed a dear friend to his 
parishioners and neighbors. He was a good man and it 
has been said that no higher praise can be given. His 
wife. Miss Eliza W. Gulick, became a member Aug. 21, 
1835. She died before him. Retiring in her usual 
state of health, she was found in the morning in a 
dying condition. 

Many amusing incidents of the Domine 's tenure are 




PORTRAIT OF ELIZA GULICK, WIFE OF DOMINE VAN AKEN, 1862 



1Rem!n!0cence0 445 

told. One which especially pleased him, because of its 
application, is worth the telling. There was a person 
in the neighborhood who was seldom, if ever, seen in 
church. He called on her one day after she had been 
indulging a little too freely in wine. They had con- 
versed a while, when he inquired where she attended 
church service. She languidly closed her eyes and 
replied, "I am fed by Dr. van Nest," referring to the 
Rev. A. R. van Nest, who preached in the Twenty-first 
Street Church. As Domine van Aken was a strong 
temperance man, he no doubt had a standing joke on 
the good Doctor who fed her so sumptuously. 



IX 
IDital Statistics 

Indices to Marriages and Baptisms will be found on 
page 521. 

REGISTER OF MARRIAGES, BLOOMING- 
DALE, NEW YORK, 10 OCTOBER, 1808. 

By Rev. Alexander Gunn. 

BOOK I 

1808 Parties Witnesses 

Oct. 22 William B. Jacob Harsen, Harlaem 

Holmes Esq. 

Hannah Stanton Thomas Ash 
Nov. 16 Isaac Tuckere George Gunn New York 

Widow L y d i a Mary Young 

Lewis (maiden 

Lydia Franks) , 

persons of color 
1809 

Jan. I William C. Bal- Jemmy 01m- Flatbush 
lard stead 
Rebecca 0. Wi- Silvanus Ward 
ley 
Feb. 23 William Waite Jonathan Hard- 
Widow Margaret man 

Mildeberger GarretH. Striker 



(Maid. (Marga- 
ret Webbers) 



446 



IDital Statl6tlC0 



447 



I8I0 




Parties 


Witnesses 


Jan. 


27 


George Dinnin 
Widow Mary Wil- 
kinson (Maid. 
Mary Craft) 


Jacob Harsen New York 


Apr, 


18 


William Ballard 


John Oakley 






Sarah Oakley 


George Gunn 


May- 


10 


Francis Lowrey 


Sarah Gunn 






Elizabeth Web- 


Margaret Waite 






bers 




June 1 2 


Andrew Her- 


William Peter- 






mance 


son 






Rachel Peterson 


Catharine Du- 
senberry 


Aug. 


9 


John E. Ross 


David M. Ross 






Jane F. Hege- 


Cornelius Har- 






man 


sen 


Dec. 


18 


John Harsen 


Jacob Harsen 






Catharine Bein- 


Garret H. Stri- 






hauer 


ker 


Dec. 


19 


Hezekiah Flor- 


Jacob Harsen 






ance 


Elizabeth Low- 






Hannah Heady 


rey 


1811 








Feb. 


2 


Lewis van Net 


Jacob Harsen 






Mary Perkins 


George Dinnin 


May- 


25 


John W. Palmer 


Sarah Gunn 






Letitia Hegeman 


Harriet Bayard 


July 


14 


Wm. Howe 


Sarah Gunn 






Eliza Bashwod 


Harriet Bayard 






(Lord Courte- 








nay's servants) 




July 


25 


Isaac L. Varian 


Garret H. Striker 






Catharine Dusen- 


John Horn 






berry 




Aug. 


15 


John Strickland 


Maria Clark, 
daughter 






Martha Clark of 


Margaret Ste- 






Goshen 


phens 


Sept. 


15 


John Herinton 
Elizabeth Bean 


Sarah Gunn 



448 ^be IRew l^ork of l^eeterba^ 



i8ii 




Parties 


Witnesses 


Oct. 


5 


Michael Cain 


Abraham Bar- 






Margaret Bar- 


tholf 






tholf 




Oct. 


23 


Sam'l A. Savage 


Benjamin Ha- 






Letitia Webbers 


vens 
Susan Webbers 


Oct. 


24 


Henry Douglas 


James Striker 






Phebe Baker 


Jacob Harsen 
Mr. Rogers 


Dec. 


10 


Samuel Miers 


Mr. Major, fa- 






Mary Major 


ther, Sarah Gunn 


1812 








Jan. 


30 


Warren Bishop 


Jemmy Olm- 






Harriet Olmstead 


stead 
Mr. Sage 


Apr. 


19 


Salyer Pettit 


Jacob Harsen 






Phebe Bloomer 


George Dinnin 


Aug. 


25 


Richard Van Ri- 
per 
Mary Clark 


John Strickland 


Aug. 


2 


Christian Hane- 

berg 
Jane Briggs 


John Strickland 


Oct. 


25 


Wilmot Oakley 


Sarah Gunn, 






Widow Rebecca 


widow 






Tuttle 




1813 








Jan. 


15 


James Gavatt 


Cato — my black 






Rebecca Martin 


man 


Mar. 


24 


Thomas Burling 
of Westchester 
Mary Shepherd 


Ann Nichols 


Apr. 


29 


Levi Rogers 
Lorenna Hors- 
ford 


James Striker 


Aug. 


7 


Henry Moynat 


Elizabeth Wat- 






Rachel Moore 


son 


Dec. 


8 


William Young 
Lavinia Merritt 


John Stevens 



IDital Statletice 



449 



1813 




Parties 


Witnesses 


Dec. 


9 


Andrew Hopper 
Elizabeth Guest, 

widow Earl 

(Arell) 


Doctor Huyler 


Dec. 


16 


Samuel Van Or- 


Dr. David 






den 


Quackenbush 






Maria Quacken- 








bush 




1814 








Jan. 


6 


George Holber- 
ton 

Catharine Hard- 
man 


Mrs. Stratton 


My 


30 


Edmond Charles 

Genet 
Martha Brandon 

Osgood 


Dr, Hosack 


i< 


c< 


Samuel W. Os- 
good 
Juliana Osgood 


(( 11 


Oct. 


3 


James Wells 


Sarah Gunn 






Hester Morris 


B. LeRoy 


Nov. 


3 


Jeremiah Grif- 


Henry Post, Esq. 






fiths 


R. Ryder 






Elsey Mott 




1815 








Mar. 


22 


David Ray 


Isaac Dey 






Susan Dey 


Sam'l Cisco 






colored people 




Mar. 


23 


William B. Ken- 


John Adriance 






yon 


Mr. Benson 






Letitia Ida Adri- 








ance 




Apr. 


II 


John Hegeman 


Jacob Harsen 






Martha Hegeman 


Cath. Cozine 


July 


24 


James Coursen 


Black slaves of 






Peggy Beagle 


Mr. Ichabod 
Prall, with his 
consent. 


Sept. 


6 


Joseph Cornell 


Jordan Mott 






Maria Striker 


Garret H. Striker 



450 ^e IRew Wox\{ of ^eetcvba^ 



i8is 




Parties 


Witnesses 


Oct. 


12 


John Mearon 
Sarah Chapman 


Westly Watson 


Dec. 


9 


Henry Gruenart 
Elizabeth Samler 


Henry Post 
Mr. Amos 


1816 








Jan. 


22 


Arunet Reed 
Ellen McVay 


Andrew Middle- 

mus 
Sam'l Weiser 


Jan. 


23 


Hamilton Brown 
Catharine Law- 
rence 


Mary Shurtliff 


Apr. 


20 


Matthias Warner 
Mary Frances 
Bogert 


Jas. Bogert, Jun. 
Rev. Mr. Ver- 
m^eule 


June 


8 


James Gallagher 
Anna Gallagher 


Thos. 

Sarah Gunn 


June 29 


John Gamage 

Catherine Sea- 
man Weaver 


Rev. Mr. Vei- 

meule 
Mrs. Ross 


Aug. 


6 


John Garland 
Margaret Brown 


Mrs. Lent 
Hamilton Brown 


Sept. 


26 


William Robert 

Stewart 
Maria Louisa De 

Labigarre 


Ab'm K. Beek- 
man 


Oct. 


3 


Edward King 

Jane Berry 

(Mr.Cheesebor- 

ough's slave), 

persons of color 


Sarah Gunn 


Nov. 


9 


Tunis A. Wald- 


John V. Wald- 






ron 
Julia St. John 


ron 


1817 








Jan. 


31 


Jonathan Jarvis 
Sarah Seaman 


Henry Seaman 
Hester Seaman 



IDital Stati0tlC6 



451 



1817 
Mar. 23 



May 28 



Aug. 28 

Sept. 1 5 

Sept. 1 8 
Nov. 13 

Dec. 31 

1818 
Feb. 12 

May 31 

June 9 

June 9 
Sept. 20 



Parties 
Rob't Church 
Susan Jackson 



Thomas Capp — 
mate of the 
Royal Edward 
— an EngHsh- 
man 

Elizabeth Ritches 
from Wales 



Witnesses 
Colored people, 
the man belong- 
ing to Mr. Dyk- 
man, the wo- 
man free 
Thomas Francis 
George Hodge 



Theophilus 
denbrook 
Eliza Wheeler 



Har- 



Abel Harden- 

brook 
Rob't Gunn 



James C. Somer- Nathaniel 
indyke Holmes 
Mary Tates (Yates?) Burnham 



August Poerect 
Louisa Dorman 
Frederick Evarts 
Mary Smith 

Andrew Van 

Buskirk 
Mary Hardman 

Henry Hoswel 

Sarah Freeman 

William Doremus John Cowan 

Eliza Lash 

Married at Green- 
wich 

John H. Dusen- Isaac L. Varian 
berry 

Sarah Leggett 

Richard Darke William Holmes 

Elizabeth Holmes 



John Elwy 
William Lyon 
David L. Bur- 
lock 
Jacob Harsen 
George Holber- 

ton 
Francis Lowrey 

Jacob Freeman 
Wm. Burtsell 



John Bertalf 
Siny (or Liny) 
Degroodt 



Abraham 
Schyler 



Van 



452 



Zbc 1Rew l?orf^ of ^cBtcvba^ 



I8I9 




Parties 


Witnesses 


Feb. 


19 


John Doran 
Mary Franck 


Calvin Higgins 


June 29 


Thos. Bennett 


Thos. Smith 






Nancy Rowland 


Loyd Howland 


July 


6 


John S. Watkins 


Rich'd Striker 






Helen Striker 


Joseph Cornell 


Dec. 


22 


William Varian 


Isaac L. Varian 






Susan Cornell 


Isaac Coutant 


1820 








Mar. 


18 


Benjamin Wald- 

ron 
Sally Ann Malt- 

bie 


Aaron Burr 


May- 


16 


John Augustus 


Jeremiah John 






Sidell 


Drake 






Marilla Adeline 








Noxon 




June 


10 


Joseph ValHere, 


Richard Jones 






born in Quebec 


Thomas Strong 






Lydia Little, 








born in Prince- 








ton 




June 1 1 


Henry T. Boyle 


Rich'd Darke 






Martha H. 








Holmes 




July 


23 


Joseph Ball Bead- 


Rev.' Mr. Shaw- 






ford 


Margaret Miller 






Eliza Mecklin 




1821 








Apr. 


18 


William Torrey, 


Timothy Whit- 






Jun. 


temore 






Adeline Whitte- 








more 




May 


13 


Jacob Dickson 


Isaac Dey 






Maria Dey, dau. 






of Peter Dey. 








colored persons 




July 


18 


Rev. Chester 


Widow Hodgins 






Long 


Sarah Gunn 






Mary Gunn 





IDital Stati6tic0 453 



I82I 




Parties 


Witnesses 


Oct. 


24 


Timothy Colvin 
Sarah Ann Cor- 
nell 


William Varian 


Nov. 


16 


James Wildy 
Maria Ackerman 


John Bertalf 


1822 








May- 


19 


William F. Hig- 

gins 
Maria Waldron 


David Waldron 


May 


26 


Jacob W. Brew- 
ster 
Harriet Bishop 
(Wid. Olmstead) 


Michael Burn- 
ham 

Francis Olm- 
stead 


July 


14 


James Burt 
Sarah Ann Du- 
pleix 


Ann Nichols 
Harriet Bay- 
ard 


July 


29 


William Holden 
Jane Brower 


James Wildy 
Ann Nichols 


Aug. 


26 


Peter Weatherby 
Hannah Wood- 
ward 


Sarah Gunn 


Oct. 


IS 


John Yeatman 
Margaret Warrel 


Nathaniel Dun- 
lap 
John Low 


Nov. 


7 


George S. Fake 
Ann Quacken- 
bush 


Dr. Quacken- 

bush 
Andrew Quack- 

enbush 


Dec. 


7 


Cornelius Wes- 

terfield 
Rachel Acker- 


John Acker- 

man 
Catharine Co- 






man 


sine 


1823 








Jan. 


21 


Xavier Gautro 
Ann Saxton 


Jacob Harsen 
Cornelius 



McKoy 
Feb. 3 James L. Cooper Samuel Wester- 
Lavina Naugle velt 

Jacob Naugle 



454 



^be t\exo IPorft of IPeeterbai? 



1823 

Mar. 



Mar. 8 



May 9 
May 20 

June 12 
Sept. 2 4 

Dec. 24 

1824 
May 15 

July 25 
Dec. 25 



Parties 
Samuel Wormly 
Catharine Dey 
colored per- 
sons 
Daniel Fish, 19 
Maria Westervelt 
under age 15 



Henry Alban 
Mary Anderson 
Isaiah Wells Tut- 

tle 
Laetitia Hard- 
man 

Philander Knapp 
Ann Maria Smith 

Henry Moore 
Hannah Church 

Free colored 

persons 

Richard Pur- 
chase 

Widow Gautro 
or Ann Saxton 

Thomas J. Em- 
mons 
Maria ShurtHff 

James Cooper 
Jane Williams 
from New York 

John Terhune 
Clarissa Ann 
Brown 



Witnesses 
Isaac Dey 
Jacob Dickson 



Ezra Miller, 
guardian for 
young man, 
whose parents 
are dead 
Susan Wester- 
velt — the sis- 
ter of bride 
and says the 
parents con- 
sent 
Henry Terhune 
Widow Lent 
Philip Webbers 
Widow Sowrey 



Sarah Gunn 
Caesar Striker 



John Day 
Thos. Cornell 



Wm. Darke 



Sarah Gunn 



IDital Statistics 



455 



1825 




Parties 


Witnesses 


Mar. 


26 


John Freeland 
Phillis Ritter 
colored persons 




May 


3 


Albert Smith, 

M.D. 
Emily Maria 

Meier 




May 


26 


Janeway Van 


Lavinia Wester- 






Zant 


velt 






Sarah Wester- 








velt 




July 


13 


Benjamin 

Stephens, Jun. 
Hannah Maria 

Prall 




July 


13 


Abraham Augus- 
tus Prall 

Joanna Ritter 
Harsen 




Oct. 


6 


Andrew Fulton 


James Arm- 






Jane Kerr 


strong and wife 


Oct. 


26 


Thomas McElrea 


Jane Ritchie 






Margaret Flem- 


Alexander 






ing 


Smith 


Dec. 


14 


Robert Thomp- 
son 
Mary Bacon 


James Mecom 


1826 








Dec. 


5 


Leonard B. Wells 
Susanna D. Frost 


\ Benj'n Frost 


Dec. 


25 


James George 


Edward Dith- 






Elizabeth Dith- 


ridge 






ridge 




1827 








May 


24 


Laurenz H. Von 
Post 

Henrietta Mar- 
garet Meier 




June 


7 


William H. Ever- 
ett 
Susan Travis 


A. H. Byer 



456 



Zbc 1Rew 13orK of l?C0tert)a^ 



1828 




Parties 


Witnesses 


Jan. 


31 


Arden Hart 
Eliza White 


Wm. Holmes 
Rich'd Darke 


Mar. 


10 


Robert Webber 
Sarah Ann Lent 


John Asten 
Ab'm Lent 


Apr. 


6 


Samuel Smith 
Eliza Clary 


John Seymour 


Apr. 


17 


Allen McKinzie 
Maria Martling 


Rob. Still 


May- 


7 


Cambridge Hit- 
ter 

Eliza Dey, 

colored persons 


Isaac Dey 


June 29 


Edwin Bunnell 
Eliza Scofield 


John L. Doo- 
little 


Oct. 


25 


Samuel T. Moore 
Hannah Carling 


William Carling 
Mary Ann Ber- 
talf 


1829 
Feb. 


I 


Richard Varian 
Maria Fulmer 


Thos. Stevens 
Isaac Varian 


July 


I 


John Campbell 
Isabella Fisher 


George Wilson 
Widow Eliza 
Mitchell 


Sept. 


6 


William H. 

Whoople 
Deborah Kniffen 


John Williams 
and wife 



Solemnized by Francis W. Kip, 
Pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church at Bloomingdale : 

1830 



1830 



Parties 



Witnesses 



Nov. 12 Samuel McDon- Henry Post, Esq. 
aid and William Stuart 

Cornelia Stuart Joseph Stoops 



IDital Stati0tiC0 



457 



1831 Parties 

Feb. 27 Samuel Johnson 
and Sarah A. 
F. Hunter, 
colored per- 
sons 

Apr. 7 Thomas H. Wells 
and Maria 
Fisher 

May 12 Peter Smith 
and Sarah 
Foster 



May 16 Wm Holmes and 
Eliza Ann Mor- 
gan 
Aug. 14 Isaac Dey and 
Clarissa Truax, 
colored persons 



Witnesses 
M. R. Kip 
H. Bayard and 
I. Dubick 



M. R. Kip 



Alexander 

Smith 
Maria Smith 
Herman Hough- 
tailing 
Wm. B. Holmes 
Richard Darke 
Wm. Burnham 
Elizabeth Dey 
Isabella Ritter \ 



By the Rev. John AlBurtis: 

Married, 1832, Alexander Russell of Bloomingdale to 

Dirk (?) of the same place. Witness, Benj. 

Russell. 

Married, Aug., 1832, Alfred H. Underbill of New York 
to Susanna AlBurtis of the same place. Witnesses, Wm. 
AlBurtis and Chr'n (?) AlBurtis. 

Married, Dec. 6, 1832, Samuel Fleet of New York to 
Catharine Cozine of the same place. Witnesses, Alden 
Spooner and Dr. Dixon. 

Married, Jan. 8, 1833, Eldridge H. Brooks to Augusta 
M. Holmes of New York. Witnesses, John Darke and 
William Holmes. 

Married, March 23, 1833, Francis Parker to Jane Dey 
of Bloomingdale. (Colored.) Witnesses, Cambridge Ritter 
and James Dey. 

Married, July, 1833, Richard Brown to Isabella Ritter 
of Bloomingdale. Witness, Cambridge Ritter. 



458 



^be IRew ^ovk of IJesterbai? 



Married, Oct. 24, 1833, Selleck B. Andrews to Maria 
Louisa Allport of New York. Witness, James Burnham. 

Married, Nov. 24, 1833, William Dickerson to Mary Ann 

Bowley of Bloomingdale. Witnesses, Parkes and 

Mrs. Hamilton. 



Solemnized by E. van Aken: 



1835 
Dec. I 



1836 
Sept. I 

1837 
Feb. 24 



June 1 1 
Aug. 2 
Aug. 5 
Oct. I 

Dec. 25 

1838 
Mar. 13 

Apr. 15 



Parties 
Peter A. Horn of New 
York to Sarah Cozine 
of Bloomingdale 

John Kelly to 
Mary Jane Morgan, both 
of Bloomingdale 

John Jasper to 
Catharine Thompson, 
both of Bloomingdale 

Nathaniel Russell to 
Eliza Caryl 

William Galager to 
Mary Smith 

Henry B, Earle 
Mrs. Sarah Meriott 

William F. Dana 
Ann Agnes Holmes 

Royal C. Perry M.D., to 
Mary Cargill of Bloom- 
ingdale, New York 

William Davison 
Elizabeth Boyles, 

both of Harlaem, New 

York 

Daniel Feitnerto 
Mahala Clinn 

both of New York 



Witnesses 
Samuel Fleet 
Jane Cozine &c. 



Wm. B. Holmes 
Geo. W. Holmes 



Eliza W. van Aken 



Rev. Fred'k B.Thomp- 
son 

Mary S. Gulick 
Jane Cozine 

^Thompson 

Lawer 

Nathaniel Wm. Holmes 
Geo. Washington 
Holmes 

David Cargill 
Edward Cargill 
Susan Havemeyer 

William F. Dana 
Geo. W. Holmes 
Nathaniel Wm. Holmes 

Mrs. Eliza van Aken 



IDital Statistics 



459 



1838 




Parties 


Witnesses 


Apr. 


26 


Joseph C. Adams of New 
York 


Joseph Henry Fisher 






Mary Johnston of 


Margaret Johnston 






Bloomingdale 




Sept. 


27 


Barak C. Wright to 


James Quackenbush 






Margaret Fake of 


Margaret Quackenbush 






New York 




Oct. 


18 


William Cisco 


Eliza W. van Aken 






Miss Ann Eliza Miles of 


Mary Freeman Gulick 






Bloomingdale 




Oct. 


19 


Charles Castendieck 


Alexander Gulick 






Catharine Alport, 


Catharine Gulick 






both of New York 


Mary Freeman Gulick 


Oct. 


28 


James Bradley to 


Alexander Gulick 






Mrs. EHzabeth Post, 


Pelatiah Perit 






both of Bloomingdale 


Geo. Savage 


Oct. 


28 


Elisha Wm. Hinman to 


Wm H. Moore 






Miss Ellen Maria Moore 


Letitia Jane Moore 






of New York 


Eliza W. van Aken 


1839 








July 


28 


Andrew Engle to 


Mrs. Engle 






Eliza Ann Atwater, 


Alexander Gulick 






both of English Neigh- 


Eliza W. van Aken 






borhood, New Jersey 




Oct. 


20 


Francis Woodruff to 


Daniel Feitner 






Amanda Cisco, 


Wilmott 






both of New York 


Tamar Leggett 



Oct. 29 



Nov. 2 5 

1840 
Apr. 28 



At Rhoadhall, N. J. 

Francis Holmes of Cran- 
bury, N. J., to 

Miss Mary Freeman Gu- 
lick of the former place 

Gessum Bowens 

Eliza Golden, both of 
Peekskill 

Leonard H. Regur to 
Sarah Emeline Dusen- 

berry, 

both of Bloomingdale, 

N. Y. 



John T. McDowell 
Andrew McDowell 
Alexander Gulick 

Mrs. Hannah Riker 
Mary Martin 



John H. Dusenberry 
Henrietta Leggett 



46o Zhc Bew Wov\{ of 13e0tert)ap 



1840 Parties 

May I William Paulson of 
Brooklyn to 
Jane Neaper of Bloom- 
ingdale, N. Y. 
Oct. 8 Frederick A. Ridabock 
to 
Sarah Frances Ross, 
both of New York 
Oct. 20 John Manuel Armanter 
to 
Sarah Davis, 
both of New York 
1841 

Jan. 17 Robert D. Thompson 
Jessie Anderson, 
both of New York 
Jan. 24 Alexander Smith 

Deborah Randolph, 
both of New York 
(colored) 

Feb. 9 George Darke 

Mary Isabella Martin, 
both of Bloomingdale, 
New York 

Feb. 28 Charles Wilmott 

Tamar Varian Leggett, 
both of Bloomingdale, 
New York 

May 12 John Hegeman 

Rosena Fairbanks 
(maiden name Rosena 
Moore) , 
both of New York 

June 2 Leonard Beckley 
Emily Steele, 

both of Bloomingdale, 
N. Y. 

July 4 William Ford 

Sarah Cath. Davis, 
both of New York 



Witnesses 
Thos. J. Emmons 
Robert Cameron 



John E. Ross 
Wm. H. Moore 



John Moody 
Mary Ann Moody 
Jane G. Gulick 



George Watson 
Isabella Watson 

Daniel Smith 
Nancy S. Gulick 



Charles Darke 
Wm. B. Holmes 



John Wm. Leggett 

James Boley 

Charles K. Dusenberry 

John E. Ross 

Odell 

Aaron B. Jackson 



Wm. Ensley 
Mary Ensley 
Hannah Holmes 

Wm. Cisco 
Ann Eliza Cisco 
Amanda Woodruff 



\DltaI Statistics 



461 



1 841 Parties 

Sept. 9 John C. Fisher 

Martha E. Garrett, 
both of New York 

Nov. 27 Geo. E. S. Furniss to 
Ann B. Alexander, 
both of New York 

Dec. 24 Richard Holmes 

Mrs. Sarah Clark (maid- 
en name S. Brown), 
both of New York 

1842 

Mar. 2 Robert McRee 
Rosena Hanan, 
both of New York 

Apr. 20 Peter Smith 

Sarah Ann Odell, 
both of New York 

June 22 William Halden 
Miss Emily Caryl, 
both of New York 

July 20 John Fisher 

Rose Hannah Reaves, 
both of New York 

Nov. 2 John R. Newbury 

Christina Cath. Dooly, 
both of New York 

Nov. 30 Adam Thompson 

Miss Eliza Jane Garret, 
both of New York 

Dec. 4 James Madison Odell 
Miss Ann Maria Quin, 
both of New York 



Witnesses 

Fisher 

Brooks 



Abel Alexander 



Abel Alexander 



Mrs. Cath. Roome 
wife of Chas. Roome 
Roome 

Mrs. E. van Aken 



John Jasper 
Jane Halden 
Hannah Holmes 



-Simpson 



Jacob Miller, M.D. 
Peter Prime 
Mary Prime 

Garret 



Mrs. Mary Cargill 
Eliza Cox 



1843 
Jan. 



15 Francis B. Guest 

Miss Sarah Ann Golding, 
both of Bloomingdale, 

N. Y. 



Abraham Guest 
Henrietta Leggett 



462 ^be IRevp !?ork of l^eeterba^ 



1843 Parties 

Feb. 19 Lewis Bowne 
Maria Stickles, 
both of New York 



1844 

Apr. 



1845 
Apr. I 



1846 

Apr. 23 



1847 
Jan. 25 

July 2 

Oct. 25 



Feb. 16 
Mar. 26 



At Whitesville (E. F.) 
Harrison R. Blanchard, 
Esq., of Jacksonville (E. 

Florida) 
Miss Harriet C. Garey of 

Whitesville, E.Florida 



James H. Borland of 
Fishkill Plains, Dutch- 
ess County, N. Y., to 

Miss Jane A. Cozine of 
New York 



Wilson G. Hunt 
Mrs. Julia Smith (maid- 
den name Julia Law- 
rence) , 

both of New York 



Nathaniel Holmes 
Rebecca Beard, 

both of New York 
William G. Tompkins 
Jane E. Gassner, 

both of New York 
Kindread Howard 
Hannah S. Holmes, 

both of New York 

Bartholomew Kene 
Martha Magee, 

both of New York 
Robert T. Vreeland 
Isabella Nish, 

both of New York 



Witnesses 
John Freeman 
Mrs. Mary Freeman 
Mary Ann Hanaway 

Osias Buddington 
Solomon Morgan 
Susan Buddington 



Samuel Fleet 
John Waite 
C. C. Vermeule 



Mrs. Patience 

rence 
Rebecca Riker 



Law- 



Wm. Holmes 
Geo. W. Holmes 
Geo. Hanaway 
Daniel Gassner 
Wm. W. Tompkins 

Wm. Holmes 
Nathaniel Holmes 
John Freeman 

Martha Thompson 
Catharine Thompson 
Mrs. Gambol 
Wm. Halden 
Samuel Halden 



Dital Statistics 



463 



1 

Dec 



16 



1849 
May II 



June 2 1 



1850 
July 18 



July 21 



Oct. 29 



1851 
July 16 



1852 
Feb. 9 



Feb. 15 
Mar. 9 
Apr. 26 



Parties 
Peter Farnron 
Mary Ann Sinton, 

both of Bloomingdale, 

New York 



Louis James Olmstead 

of Yonkers 
Mary Warner Campbell 

of New York 

Peter Post 

Mrs. Mary Louisa White 
(maiden name Marshall) , 
both of New York 



Henry Kelly 
Elmira McCullough, 
both of New York 

John Edward Taylor to 
Ann Morgan 

Thomas Shepherd 
Caroline Somerindyke, 
both of New York 



Titus K. Adee, 
Sarah Lozier, 

both of New York 



Charles Darke Holmes 
Mary Smith, 

both of New York 

Robert Carss 
Joanna Gordon 

Francis Fowle 
Agnes Summersgill 

Alex'r Ray Skinner 
Ann Eliza Purdy 



Witnesses 
Eliza W. van Aken 
Eliza C. Warren 



Samuel Fleet 
Sarah Cosine 
Jane A. Dorland 

John Marshall 



William Leggett 
Charles Wilmott 



Samuel Fleet 
Jane Dorland 
Sarah Cozine 

Ab'm Labagh 
Stanton 



John Lozier 
John H. Lozier 
Eliza Lozier 



William Holmes 
Wilham F. Dana 
Henry Steele 

Eliza W. van Aken 
Gulick van Aken 

C. G. Griffin 
Summe r sgill 

John H. Dally 
Robert Fehx 



464 



Zl)c mew 13or?^ of IPesterbai? 



1852 Parties 

Apr. 26 Josiah Martin 

Evaline M. Dally, 
all of New York 

1853 

Mar. 26 Joseph Weyer 
Mary Jane Day 

June 27 Thomas Kervan, born 
July 9, 1 83 1 
Maria Cowdy, aged about 
20, 
both of New York 

J'^^y 3 John Collins, New York, 

born April 30, 1828 
Miss Frances Merry (?), 

New York, born March 
1854 15, 1837 

Jan. 24 Samuel Whin Yates, 

aged 23 years, to 
Miss Margaret E. Smith, 

aged 18. He of New 

York, she of Smith- 

ville, L.I. 
May 8 James Hanaway, aged 

28, born in England, 

March i, 1826 
Margaret Kelly, born in 

Ireland. Now both of 

New York 
June 13 William Kelly 
Kate Holmes, 

both of New York 

May 15 John H. Edwards of Al- 
bany to 
Priscilla Felton of Sau- 
gerties 

Nov. 22 David H. Mason, born 

in New York, aged 26 

Miss Mary Nish, born in 

Brooklyn, aged 22, 

Both of New York 



Witnesses 
Emily Reid 
Mary Reid 



Eliza W. van Aken 

Barney 

Gulick van Aken 
Eliza Garretson 
Sarah Woodruff 
Eliza W. van Aken 



Miss Caroline WoodruflE 
Sarah Woodruff 
Her widowed mother 
present consenting 

Joseph Darling 
Oliver Woodruff 



Oliver Woodruff 
Charles Backus 



Wm. Holmes 
Wm. F. Dana 
George Kelly 

Barent G. van Aken 
David van Aken 
Zechariah Felten 

Samuel Halden 
Robert Vreeland 



IDltal Statistics 



465 



Oct. 



1855 Parties 

Jan. 3 John Littell, born at 
Westfield, Essex Co. 
N. J., aged 26, of 
Westfield 
Miss Marion B. Shot- 
well, born Canaan, 
Conn., aged 24, of 
New York 
20 David Emerick, born at 
Saugerties, Ulster Co., 
N. Y., aged 26 years 
Miss Elizabeth Catha- 
rine van Aken, born at 
Saugerties, Ulster Co., 
N. Y. aged 18 years. 
Married at Saugerties. 
I Enoch van Aken, Jr. 
Angeline Plass, 

both born and married 
at Saugerties 
20 Timothy Keese, born at 
Boston, aged 23 years 
Hannah Hawkins 

3 Hiram Engle 

Ann Maria Terhune, 

both of New York 
Wm. G. Graham 
Mary Ann Read, 

both of New York 



Nov. I 

Nov. 20 

1856 
Jan. 3 

May 7 



Dec. 



1857 
May 



29 George Findley, born at 
Utica, aged 28 
Deborah Ann Parks, 
born at Hanover, 
N. J., aged 21, 
both of New York 

John Carss of New York, 

widower 
Miss Marion Bissland of 

New York 



Witnesses 
Clayton M. Shot well 
Caroline Shotwell 



Barent G. van Aken 
John van Aken 
John H. Edwards 
Gulick van Aken 



David van Aken 

John Plass 

Barent G. van Aken 

Samuel Fleet 
Gulick van Aken 



James D. Yates 



Wm. Read 
Miss Emily Read 
Mrs. Eliza W. van 

Aken 
John Parks 
Gulick van Aken 



Thos. J. Emmons 
Emily Emmons 
Eliza W. van Aken 



466 



Zl)c Mew l^orft of ^cetcv^a^ 



1857 Parties 
Sept.25 Wm. H. Lacon, aged 24, 

of White Plains, West- 
chester Co., N. Y.. 
born at Shrewsbury, 
England, to 
Miss Isabella Teressa 
Rooney, aged 15, of 
White Plains, West- 
chester Co. , New York, 
born in New York 
City 

1858 - .^,.. .-^. 

Jan. 2 Henry J. Gutman, born 
New York, aged 24, 
resides here now single 
Emma C. Lozier (single) , 
born and resides in 
New York 

Jan. 2 Joseph Gutman, Jr., aged 
22 (single), born and 
resides in New York 
Lida C. Pitman, aged 19 
5 months (single) , born 
and resides in New 
York 

Jerome W. Merritt, aged 
25, born at Boston, 
Massachusetts, now 
residing 132 Ninth 
Ave., New York 

Miss Frances Hey wood, 
aged 20, born in New 
York, residence 132 
Ninth Ave., New 
York. Married 162 
West 26th St., New 
York. 

June 16 Geo. S. Miller, born in 
Scotland (Edinburgh) , 
aged 2 1 , Residence 



1859 
Jan. 17 



Witnesses 
Joseph Kelly 
Eliza Jane Baldwin 



Joseph Gutman 
John H. Lozier 



John H. Lozier 
Henry W. Haywood 
Joseph Gutman 



Mrs. Martha Hey wood, 
the bride's mother. 



Eliza W. van Aken 



John Jasper 
John K. Curtis 



IDital Statistics 



467 



1859 Parties 

230 Third Ave., New- 
York 
Miss Maria R. Brock, 
born New York, aged 
18. Residence 72nd St. 

•^^g- 7 John Ely (single), born 
at Hackensack, N. J., 
aged 21 years, resi- 
dence New York, to 
Miss Matilda Bogert, 
born New York, aged 
18. Residence in N. Y. 

Oct. I Thomas Gilland, born 
in Ireland. Aged 21 
Nov, ist next. Resi- 
dence 62nd St. 
Teressa McDonald, aged 
18 next July 26th. 
Born in Ireland. She 
now resides 62nd St. 
near Broadway. Her 
father in Clinton Co., 
N. Y. 



Witnesses 



i860 
Mar. 



1861 

Mar. 



8 Mr. Ab'm De Voe, aged 
26, born at Shawan- 
gunk. Lives at Sha- 
wangunk, Ulster Co., 
N. Y. 
Miss Miriam Boyd, aged 
25, born at Shawan- 
gunk, now of Brook- 
lyn, N. Y. 

26 James Bolles Wallace of 
New York, born at 
Milford, New Hamp- 
shire, aged 23, to 
Louisa R. Lozier of New 
York, born in N. Y., 
aged 20: married in 
N. Y. 



Mrs. Jane A. Borland 
Miss Sarah Fleet 
Mrs. Sarah Cosine 



Michael Caryl 



John N. Boyd 
James G. Derrickson 



Henry J. Gutman 
Gulick van Aken 



468 



Zbc 1Rew l?orh of IJceterba^ 



1861 

Oct. 29 
0130 



1862 
May 6 



May 12 



May 22 



Nov. 9 



1863 
Dec. I 



Parties 

John Smith of Albany, 
born at St. Johns, aged 
24 

EUzabeth Boxall, of 
Harlem, born in Eng- 
land, aged 19 

WilHam G. Purdy, aged 

29, of New York. Born 
in England 

Rebecca Gardner of New 
York. Born in Ire- 
land. Aged 21 years 

Thomas Stanley of New 
York. Born in Ire- 
land. Aged 26 years 

Elizabeth Frazer Robert- 
son, born in Scotland, 
22 years 

Eldridge Holmes, aged 

30, born in New York 
Miss Margaret Wright, 

born in New York, 
aged 24. Both now 
residing in N. Y. Mar- 
ried at 20 W. 28th St. 

Isaac D. Blake, born in 
Boston, Mass., aged 
32. Now lives in 85th 
St. near nth Ave., 
New York 

Maria Wilson, born in 
New York, aged 26, 
resides 88th St., near 
Broadway, New York. 

Gulick van Aken, born 
in New York, aged 23, 
residence New York 
Elizabeth J a n n e 1 1 
Kearny, aged 20, born 
in Brooklyn, N. Y. 
and resides there. 



Witnesses 
Geo. Bainton 
Fred'k Herbert 



Francis Felix 
Wm. F. Goodburn 



George Robertson 

Watts 

Mrs. Jane Anderson 



Mrs. Eliza W. van Aken 



Jotham Wilson 
Lewis Wood 



Archibald K. Kearny 
Hamilton B. Holmes 
John Mc. Bogart 



\Dital Statistics 



469 



1864 

Feb. 14 



July 17 



1865 
Feb. 20 



May 9 



Parties 

Nathaniel^T. Spear (wid- 
ower) , aged 3 7 , of New 
York, residence and 
married at 242 W. 3 2d 
St. Born at Oakham, 
Mass.' 

Miss Christina C. Byron, 
born at Boston, aged 
17, residence 242 W. 
3 2d St., New York 

Lawrence Deyo of New 
York, aged 30, born in 
Shawangunk, Ulster 
Co., N. Y. 

Mary Catharine Feitner 
of New York, aged 19, 
born in N. Y. married 
29 W. 34th St. 

Robert Watts, aged 28 
years, resides in New 
York, born at Helper- 
ton Wiltshire, Eng- 
land 

Mrs. Jane Anderson 
(maiden name Jane 
Bogert),born in Ber- 
gen Co., New Jersey, 
aged 32. Residence 
in New York ; married 
68th St., New York 



Frederick Waldman, 
born in Germany, 
aged 32. Residence 
126 West St. 

Caroline Amelia Corson, 
born New York, aged 
18. Residence and 
married at cor. 2d 
Ave. and 105th St. 

Andrew Peter Deyo of 
Shawangunk, Ulster, 



Witnesses 
Wm. Mallary 
James Clift 



Daniel Feitner 
Jas. W. Oliver 



EH Watts 
Henry Hole 



Mrs. Julia Caroline 

Corson 
Charles Galuba 



Matthew F. Deyo 
Lawrence Deyo 



470 ^be IRcw ^ox\{ of ipeeterba^ 



1865 Parties 

Co., N. Y., born at 
Shawangunk, aged 40. 

Mary Hardenbergh born 
and resides in same 
place, aged 20; mar- 
ried at 268 W. 33d 
St. N. Y. 

Francis Felix, born in 
New York; aged 21. 
Residence 69th St. 
near Broadway 

Anna Maria Robison, 
aged 22, born New 
York, Residence 68th 
St. near Broadway. 
Married 207 West 
27th St. 

George Eaton, aged 22, 
born in New York. 
Residence South 
Brunswick, Middle- 
sex Co., N. J., (Road- 
hall) 

Margaret Jane McGin- 
ness, aged 20, born 
South Brunswick, 
Middlesex Co., N. J., 
married at Roadhall, 
town and county as 
above 
July 24 Joseph Dains, aged 24 
years, born in Chester, 
Orange Co., N. Y. 

Eliza Jane Walker, aged 
17, born Brooklyn; 
both reside in Brook- 
lyn, N. Y., were mar- 
ried at 53d St., New 
York 



Witnesses 



1866 
June 20 



Oct. 29 George A. 



aged^ 19, 



Mclntyre, 
born in 



Ambrose Felix 
Elizabeth Schmidt 



John van Aken 
James Spencer 
Gulick van Aken 



William Henry Dains 
Newman Marshman 
Jane A. Borland 



William Halden 
Jane Nish 



IDital Statistics 



471 



1866 Parties 

Bergen, New Jersey. 
Residence New York 
Jane Emily Halden, 
aged 21, born in New 
York; residence and 
marriage 310 West 
42 d St., New York 

Dec. 25 Alex'r Southerland,born 
at Wick, in the County 
of Caithness, Scot- 
land, aged 29 
Ann Bruce, born same 
place; aged 26 years. 
Present residence and 
marriage loth Ave., 
cor. 65th St., New 
York. 

1867 

Feb. 26 Eli Benedict, aged 23, 
born Bethel, Conn. 
Martha E. Mitchell, 
aged 20, born New 
York City. Residence 
of both New York 
City, marriage, Broad- 
way, near 67th St. 

Nov. 26 William Dowdell, aged 
30, born in County of 
Kildare, Ireland, Resi- 
dence South Amboy, 
N.J. 
Ellen Clark, widow of 
James Little, born in 
Ireland ; aged probably 
35; residence Road- 
hall ;married at Road- 
hall, South Bruns- 
wick, N. J. 

Dec. I John Fistje of New York 
born in New York; 
aged 22 



Witnesses 
Samuel Halden 



Geo. Gillie 
David S. Reid 
Fred'k Schmidt 



Henry S. Mitchell 
Wm. Mitchell 
Thomas Mitchell 



Wm. McDougall 
David Gulick 
Geo. Eaton 



Charles Bowers 
Emma Fistje 



472 tlbe IFlew WovU of IPeeterba^ 



tS6S 
Mar. 



Apr. 29 



Nov. 17 



Parties 
Emma Hoffman, aged 

20, born in Germany; 
residence of both, 
Broadway bet. 68 and 
69th Sts. 

Charles A. Winch, aged 

21, residence 276 West 
loth St., New York 

Marion Swan Halden, 
aged 17, born in New 
York ; residence — ; 
married at 341 West 
27th St., New York 

James Alexander Stri- 
ker, born in New York ; 
aged 43 

Mrs. Letitia M. Knight. 
Maiden name L. M. 
Moulton; aged 2^; 
born in New York; 
married in Morrisania 
by Henry R. Blin 
assisted by E. van 
Aken 

Edgar V. Fowler, born 
Tarry town, N. Y. ; 
aged 27; residence 
Tarrytown 

Ella Park, born in New 
York; aged 25; resi- 
dence 418 West 34th 
St. 



Witnesses 



Samuel Halden 
William Halden 
Geo. A. Mclntyre 



J. T. Moultor 
Chas. Wood 
Ambrose K. Striker 



John Hamilton 
George Findley 
Isabella Park 



REGISTER OF MARRIAGES 
BOOK II 



Datei 




Names 


1869 
Aug. 


10 


George Findley 
Agnes Gordon 


Oct. 

1870 
Feb. 


6 
19 


Nathaniel M. Moger 
Isabella H. Park 

Samuel Bawden 
Maria Hanaway 


June 


I 


Thomas J. Barnaby 
Alice Wood 


Aug. 


10 


Benjamin Franklin 
Jane Cozine Borland 


Aug. 


18 


Frederick Vass 
Anne Robertson 


Oct. 


8 


Daniel Bremer 
Sarah Hanaway 


Oct. 


20 


Wm. Holmes, Jr. 


1871 
Apr. 


7 


Sarah McFarland (maiden 
name Smith) 

Ralph L. Ostrander 
Hannah V. Richards 


Apr. 


12 


Jacob Frederick Schmidt 
Sarah Ann Moore 


Apr. 


20 


Metcalf Everett 



Elizabeth Schmidt 



Residence 

22 Mansfield Place, 

New York 
22 Mansfield Place, 

New York 
White Plains, N. Y. 
White Plains, N. Y. 

62d St. and 9th Ave., 
New York 

75th St., and 9th Ave. 
New York 

Elizabeth, N. J. 

54 West 23d St. N. Y. 

316 W. 52dSt., N. Y. 

219 W. 53d. St, N. Y. 

312 E. i2thSt., N. Y. 

Harlem 

74th St., and Boule- 
vard, New York 

75th St. and 9th Ave., 
New York 

74th St. near loth 
Ave., New York 

74th St., New York 



143 Perry St., N. Y. 
143 Perry St., N. Y. 
New York 
New York 
New York 
New York 



474 



Age Place of Birth 

41 Utica, New York State 

30 New York City 

35 New Castle 

28 New York City 



25 


England 


24 


New York City 


30 


Harwich, Mass. 


20 


New York City 


24 


(( <( (( 


25 


(( (< (( 


30 


Ireland 


25 


Scotland 


24 


Germany 


19 


New York City 


29 


<( (< (( 


30 


<( 11 (( 


38 

28 





27 Brooklyn, N. Y. 

27 England 

23 Roxborough, Mass. 

28 Yonkers, N. Y. 



Witnesses 

Frederick Schmidt 

Metcalf Everett 

George Findley 
Agnes Findley 

George Hanaway 
Samuel Hanaway 

Lewis Wood 
James O. Barnaby 
Philip Vernon 
George Rose 
Isaac Rose 
Thomas Stanley 
George Robertson 
Samuel Bawden 

Samuel Hanaway 

William Holmes, Sr. 

Henry Kelly 
WilHam Kelly 

Eliza W. van Aken 
Sarah M. Horn 
Frederick Schmidt 
Elizabeth Schmidt 
Frederick Schmidt 
John Dwight 



475 



476 



ZlK Bew l?orft of IJeeter^ai? 



Dates 

1872 
Mar. 4 

Oct. 5 



1873 
Mar. 2 



Names 

Louis Hageman 
Annie May Barnaby 
Jacob Robert Terwilliger 

Elizabeth Catharine Em- 
erick (maiden name van 
Aken) 



Wm. PaHster Brown 
Rachel Ellen Babington 
June 8 Charles Stacel 
Isabella Decker 



Dec. I 

1873 
Dec. 3 



Dec. 10 



William Halden 
Georgiana Blackman 

Jacob Flick 

Barbara Geiar 
Frank S. Thompson 

Eliza van Aken 



1875 
Oct. 31 



James N. Vreeland 
Rosena Mary Hartner 

Dec. 22 Ashley William Cole 

Mamie Louisa Trimble 

1876 

Mar. 16 



1877 
Mar. 19 

Oct. 9 

Nov. 27 



Richard M. H. Deas 
Catharine P. Nash 

James Smock 
Rachel McDowell Guhck 
Charles E. P. Neumann 
Emilie H. Koertge 
Enoch I. van Aken 
Mary Farr 



Residence 

New York City 
New York City 
Kingston, Ulster 

N. Y. 
Throop, Cayuga 

N. Y. 



Co. 
Co.. 



68th St. and Boule- 
vard, N. Y. 

75 North 4th St., 
Williamsburg, N. Y. 

65th St., bet. 8th and 
9th Ave., N. Y. 

65th St., bet. 8th and 
9th Ave., N. Y. 

343 W. 43d St., N. Y. 

446 W. 42d St., N. Y. 

67th St., near Boule- 
vard, N. Y. 

456 W. sistSt., N. Y. 

Shokan, Ulster Co., 
N. Y. 

Kingston, Ulster Co., 
N. Y. 

New York City 



Staten Island 



Englishtown, N. J. 
South Bruns^sdck, N.J. 
New York City 

South Brunswick, N.J. 



IDital Statistics 477 

Age Place of Birth Witnesses 



42 City of Oldenburgh, Ger. 

22 Taunton, Mass. 

33 Greenbush, N. Y. 

3 5 Saugerties, Ulster Co. , N. Y, 



Eliza W. van Aken 
Sarah M. Horn 
Eliza W. van Aken 



28 


New York 


John Harding 


19 


Jersey City, N. J. 


Henry S. Mitchell 


21 


New York 


Martin Armstrong 


19 


Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 


Nancy I. Decker 


30 
23 


New York 


John Halden 
Jane Halden 


22 


New York 


Peter Flick 


22 
23 


Germany 
Rhinebeck, N. Y. 


Annie Flick 
William van Aken 


27 


Kingston, Ulster Co.,N.Y. 


Albert van Aken 


25 
19 

35 
24 


New York City 

(( K <( 

England 

New York City 


Eliza W. van Aken 
T. McElvany 
Emott Wells 
James W. Fooley 




(I <( (< 
Brooklyn. N. Y. 


Mrs. Emma Eagleton 
H. Dio Lawson 




South Brunswick 


John Smock 
Emeline Smock 


34 

22 

24 
19 


Germany 
New York City 
New Jersey 


Theodore Koertge 
Albert F. Koertge 
Alexander van Aken 
Eliza W. van Aken 



REGISTER OF BAPTISMS BY ALEX- 

ANDER GUNN, PASTOR OF THE 

CHURCH AT BLOOMINGDALE, 

NEW YORK. 

loth OCT., 1808. 



479 



REGISTER OF BAPTISMS— from a former record 

Ministers 



Dates 
1806 

July 13 



Aug. 31 

1807 
Jan, 4 

Jan. 18 

Apr. 19 
June 14 



Names 

William, born 
May 21, 1806 

Cornelius Eli, 
born July 27, 
1806 

Henry, born 
July 9, 1806 

William, born 
Oct. 28, 1805 

Elenor, born 
Jan. 12, 1806 

Catharine, born 
July 30, 1806 



Sophia, born 
Oct. II, 1805 

Lawrence H., 
Nov. 7, 1806 

Sarah Jane, 
Feb. 13, 1807 

Gilbert Cou- 
tant, Feb. 5, 
1807 



Parents 

Henry Palmer 
Maria Rikeman 
Cornelius Pe- 
terson 
Eliza Tharp 
Peter B. Dem- 

oress 
Hannah Volk 
William Ray 
Mary Dey 
Benjamin New- 
house 
Ann Jones 
William Strat- 

ton 
CatharineWeb- 
bers 



George 

way 
Mary Coffee 
Jonathan 

Hardman 
Sarah Webbers 
Mr. Dalton 

Isaac Varian 
Tamar Leggett 

481 



Mr. Smith 

Dr. J. H. Liv- 
ingston 

Dr. J. H. Liv- 
ingston 

Dr. J. H. Liv- 
ingston 

Dr. J. H. Liv- 
ingston 

Dr. J. H. Liv- 
ingston 



Gallo- Mr. Henderson 
Mr. Henderson 



Mr. Henderson 
Mr. Henderson 



482 Zl)c IRew l?orJi of Ueeterbai? 

Dates Names Parents Ministers 

Dec. 13 John, Nov. 23, John Short Mr. Henderson 

1807 Jane Tynan 
1808 

Oct. 16 Isaac, born Andrew Mor- Rev. W. Ro- 

Sept. 5, 1805 row meyne 
Jane Adamson 

Aug. 28 Sarah, born Au- William Stratton 

gust 3, 1808 Catharine Webbers 

Aug. 28 John William, Isaac Leggett 

born May 20, Barbary Kelly 

1808 

Sept. 3 Philip, born John Webbers 

May 22, 1807 Margaret Ford 

Oct. 23 MaryAnn,born Aaron B. Jackson 

Sept. 2 5, 1 808 Cynthia Hegeman 

Nov. 20 Samuel, born William Ray ] 1x1 

June 12,1808 MaryDey ^ | People of color 

1809 

Jan. 15 Caroline, born, George Galloway 

Aprilis,i8o8 Mary Coffey 

Mar. 23 William, born William Williamson ) people 

Oct. 24, 1804 Esther Coss j of color 

and 
Samuel, born 

Dec. 22, 1808 

Mar. 31 Martha Cox, Adult 
wife of Law- 
rence Hoff- 
man, born 
Oct. 4, 1783 

Apr. 6. Aaron, born Jonathan Hardman 

March 11, Sarah Webbers 
1809 

Apr. 30 John, born Matthew Horn 

March 23, Margaret Hegeman 
1809 

May 14 George Wash- Isaac Varian 

ington, born Tamar Leggett 
April 3, 1809 



IDital Statietice 



483 



Dates 


Names 


Parents Ministers 


May 


28 


Jemimah, born 


James Striker 






April 1 5 , 
1809 
Julia, born Feb. 


Mary Horn 


June 


8 


Catharine Remsen 






19, 1809 


Samuel A. Lawrence 


June 


II 


Sarah Ballard, 


Sarah Nichols ] baptized by 
Alexander Gunn J Rev. Mr. 






born May 7, 






1809 


Rowan 


Aug. 


20 


John Horn, 


Christopher Mildeberger 






born May 


Margaret Horn 






24, 1809 




Aug. 


27 


Mary Ann, 


Lawrence HofEman 






born ' April 


Martha Cox 






25, 1809 




Sept. 


24 


Letitia, born 


Henry Hughes 






June 12, 


Hannah Webbers 






1808 




Dec. 


17 


Mary, born 


Isaac Dey 
Elizabeth Cisco 


1810 








Jan. 


9 


Edward Preble, 


William Torrey 






bom Oct. 25, 


Margaret Nichols 






1809 




Feb. 


28 


Ann, born Jan. 


Robert Davidson 






19, 1803 


Elizabeth Rodabaugh 


Feb. 


28 


Rebecca, born 


Robert Davidson 






Dec. 8, 1804 


Elizabeth Rodabaugh 


Feb. 


28 


Alexander, 


Robert Davidson 






born Jan. 


EHzabeth Rodabaugh 






29, 1810 




Mar. 


14 


Lewis, born 


Hannibal Ritter ) people of 
Dina ) color 






Feb. 17, 1810 


Apr. 


18 


Patience, born 


John Oakley 






Apr. 2, 1809 


Glorianna Hendrickson 


Apr. 


30 


Kelly, born 


Isaac Leggett 






Mar. 21, 

tRto 


Barbary Kelly 


Apr. 


30 


Henry, born 


Samuel A. Lawrence 






Apr. 12, 1810 


Catharine Remsen 



484 



Ztbe Bew IPorft of IDeaterba^ 



Names 
Catharine, bom 

Apr. 20, 1810 
May 7 William Waite, 

born Mar. 15, 

1810 
William, born 

about 7 

weeks before 
Letitia, born 

Oct. 15, 1810 



Dates 

May 7 



June II 



Nov. 25 



1811 
Jan. 30 

Mar. 3 



Mar. 3 



Mary, born 

Peter Adrian 
Hegeman, 
born Jan. 24, 
1811 



Alexander 
Nichols,bom 
Jan. 10, 1811 

Apr. I Alexander,born 
Apr. 18, 1810 

Apr. Garret Peter- 

son, born 
Mar. 12,1811 

July 14 Letitia Jane, 
bom June 
19, 1811 

Aug. 18 William, born 
May 22, 1811 



1812 
Feb. 19 

Feb. 27 



Mar. 1 



Gilbert, born 
Jan. 3, 1813 

Magdalen Rit- 
ter, bomjan. 
31, 1812 

John, bornjuly 
28, 1811 



Parents Ministers 

Cornelius Harsen 
Joanna Henrietta Ritter 
William Stratton 
Catharine Webbers 

John Clendining 
Margaret Patterson 

Aaron B. Jackson 
Cynthia Hegeman 

Henry Hughes 
Hannah Webbers 
Matthew Horn 
Margaretta Hegeman 



Alexander Gunn \ baptized by 
Sarah Nichols j Mr. Rowan 

George Galloway 
Mary Coffey 

Andrew Hermance 
Rachel Peterson 

John E. Ross 
Jane F. Hegeman 

William Waite 
Margaret Webbers 

John Van Emburgh 
Jane Christie 

Cornelius Harsen 
Joanna Henrietta Ritter 

Susan Hinckley 

(the father did not stand) 



IDital Statistics 



485 



Dates 

Mar. I 

Apr. I 

June 28 
June 28 
Oct. IS 

Dec. 7 

1813 
Feb. 12 

Feb. 28 
Apr. 30 

Aug. 22 
Sept. 9 

Sept. 9 
Nov. 5 

Nov. 5 

1814 
Feb. 4 



Names 
Henry, born 
Nov.23,1811 

Frederick, 
bom Oct. 22, 
1811 

Andrew Hop- 
per, born 

George Osgood, 
born 

George Wash- 
ington, bom 
Apr. 13,1812 

Joseph Wind- 
ham, born 
Aug. 5, 1812 

Sarah Ann, 
born Dec. 2, 
1812 

Jemima, bom 
Jan. 5, 1813 

Peter A. Hege- 
man, born 
Feb. 20, 1813 

George, bom 
June23,i8i3 

Tamar Letitia, 
bom Aug. 14, 
1813 

Emiline, bom 
Feb. 27,1813 

Hannah Hop- 
kins, wife of 
Wm. Stuart 

Julia, born 



Samuel Adams 
Lawrence 



Parents 
Sarah Webbers 
Jonathan Hardman (did not 

stand) 
John Harsen 
Catharine Beinhaur 

Isaac L. Varian 
Catharine Dusenberry 
Alexander Gunn 
Sarah Nichols 
Barzillai Dusenberry 
Mary Hopper 

Sam'l A. Savage 
Letitia Webbers 



Andrew Hermance 
Rachel Peterson — stood 

Matthew Horn 
Margaretta Hegeman 

Aaron B. Jackson 
Cynthia Hegeman 

Wm. Waite 
Margaret Webbers 
Isaac L. Varian 
Catharine Dusenberry 

Isaac L. Varian 
Tamar Leggett 
Adult 



Wm. Stuart 
Hannah Hopkins 

Adult 



486 



TOe IRew 13ork ot IJesterbai? 



Da^^i 




Names 


Parents Ministers 


Mar. 


3 


John Peter Rit- 


Cornelius Harsen 






ter, born 


Joanna Henrietta Ritter 






Feb. 9, 1814 




Mar. 


13 


Nathaniel 


Wm. B. Holmes 






Wm., born 


Hannah Stanton 






May 15, 1809 








George Wash- 








ington, born 








Apr. 23,1811 








Augusta Maria 








born Feb. 15, 








1814 




Mar. 


27 


Lewis Carstairs 


Alexander Gunn \ by Mr. 
Sarah Gunn J Rowan 








Apr. 


18 


Harry, bom 


Hannibal Ritter ) people of 
Dina [ color 






Mar.27,1814 


Apr. 


25 


CaroHne, bom 


Daniel Mack 






Feb. 3, 1811 


Elizabeth Torot 


May 


15 


John Edmund, 


John W. Palmer 






born Oct. 22, 
1813 

James, born 


Letitia Hegeman 


May 


22 


John Beekman 






Jan. 12, 1814 


Mary Elizabeth Goad Bedlow 


July 


31 


Samuel, born 


Walter Franklin Osgood 






June 4, 1813 


Ellen Moncrief 


Aug. 


5 


Horace, born 


Samuel A. Lawrence 






Juneii,i8i4 


Catharine Remsen 


Aug. 


28 


Eliza Catha- 


Caspar Meier 






rine, born 


Elizabeth Catharine Kunze 






Aug. 4, 1814 




Nov. 


6 


Christian, 


Hugh McLeod 






Hugh 


Mrs. McLeod 


1815 








Mar. 


5 


Letire Frances, 


Matthew Horn 






born Dec. 28, 
1814. 


Margaret Hegeman 


Apr. 


II 


John Edward, 


John E. Ross 






born Mar. 18, 


Jane F. Hegeman 






1815 





Dital Statistics 487 

Dates Names Parents Ministers 

May 5 Sam'l James, Sam'l van Orden 

born Oct. 28, Maria Quackenbush 

1814 

Aug. 4 Hannah Cath- William Stuart 

arine, born Hannah Hopkins, deceased 

Feb. 18,1815 

Oct. 8 Caroline Maria, Dr. John Gamage 

born Oct. 3, Mary Stanton (widow Wilkins) 

1815 

Oct. 10 Jonathan, born Sarah Webbers 

May, 1 814 Jonathan Hardman (did not 
stand) 

Oct. 10 John, born Oct. Margaret Webbers 

31, 1 8 1 4 William Waite (did not stand) 

Oct. 20 Janet Duncan, Robert Gosman, now deceased 

born June 29, Phebe Muir 
181S 

Oct. 22 Cynthia, born Aaron B, Jackson 

Aug. 31,1815 Cynthia Hegeman 

Nov. 3 Isaac, born Isaac L. Varian 

Aug.16,1815 Catharine Dusenberry 

Dec. 18 Sarah, born Richard Darke 

Sept. 1 7, 1 809 

Dec. 18 Henry, born Maria 

Nov. 17, 1812 

Dec. 18 Maria, born 
Nov. 22,1815 

1816 

Jan. 15 John Varick, Henry S. Dodge 

born Oct. 14, Jane Dey Varick 

1814 

Jan. 15 Henry Augus- Henry S. Dodge 

tus, born Jane Dey Varick 

Dec. 20, 1815 

Jan, 22 Henry, bom Henry Beams 

June28,i8i4 Margaret George 

Feb. John Wood, John W. Palmer 

born Aug. Letitia Hegeman 

10, 1815 



488 



Zhc Wicxo IPork of ^cetev^a^ 



Dates 
Mar. 10 



May 3 
Aug. 9 



Aug. II 
Aug. 25 
Nov. 17 

Dec. I 

1817 
Jan. I 



Names 

John Adrian, 
born Jan. 19, 
1816 

Matavus Hop- 
per, born 
Sept. 23, 
1815 

Mary A n t o i- 
nette, born 
Julyi2,i8i6. 
First bap- 
tized in new 
church 

CorneHa Ra- 
chel 

James, 

Rachel 

Mary Kuni- 
gundi, born 
Oct. 7, 1816 

Dina, born 



Sarah Scher- 
me r hor n, 
born Nov. 9, 
1816 
Apr. 10 MaryAnn,born 
July 15,1812 

Jane, born Oct. 
16, 1814 

William Varian, 
Dec.27, 1816 
May II Matthew 



Parents 
John Hegeman 
Martha Hegeman 

Jordan Mott 
Lavinia Striker 



Alexander Gunn 
Sarah Nichols 



Cornelius Harsen 
Joanna Henrietta Ritter 
Isaac Dey 
Elizabeth Cisco 
Caspar Meier 
Elizabeth C. Kunze 

Hannibal Ritter ) people of 
Dina | color 

John James Stewart 
Hopkins 



May II 



Aug. 12 



Peter Adrian, 
born Jan. 24, 
1817 
Matilda Camp- 
bell, born July 
16, 1817 



Isaac Leggett 
Barbary Kelly 



Matthew Horn 
Margaret Hegeman 
John E. Ross 
Jane F. Hegeman 

Isaac L. Varian 
Catharine Dusenberry 



Dital Stati9tiC0 



489 



Dates 
Aug. 2 1 

Aug. 21 

Aug. 24 

Aug. 24 
Dec. 19 



Names 

Elizabeth, 

bornNov.31, 

1816 
Catharine Ma- 

ria.bornFeb. 

10, 1817 
Mary Jane, 

born Aug. 2, 

1817 
Thomas, born 
Jan. 2, 1817 
James SterHng, 

born Aug. 

28, 1816 



i8i« 
Jan. 6 



Charles David, 

born Oct. 27, 

1817 
May 10 Robert, born 

Feb. 3, 1810 
Elspeth, born 

Sept. I, 1813 
Catharine, 

born June 28, 

1815 
May 24 MargaretHege- 

man, born 

Dec. 20, 1817 
May 24 Angeline, born 

Mar. 2, 1818 
July I John Asten, 

born May 25, 

1818 
Aug. 23 Jane, born Oct. 

19, 1817 
Nov. 7 WilUam Sty- 

mets, born 

Sept. 20,1818 
Nov. 7 Ann Agnes, 

born June 3 , 

1816 



Parents 
Sarah Webbers 
Jonathan Hardman 

Catharine Hardman 
George Holberton 

John Carland 
Margaret Brown 

Mr. Morrison 

Henry Beams 
Margaret George 



Sam'l A. Lawrence 
Catharine Remsen 

Andrew Middlemus 
Hannah Robinson 



Aaron B. Jackson 
Cynthia Hegeman 

Jacob Naugel 
Eleanor Westervelt 
Alexander Gunn 
Sarah Nichols 

Hamilton Brown 
Catharine Lawrence 
John E. Ross 
Jane F. Hegeman 

WilHam B. Holmes 
Hannah Stanton 



490 



TOe 1Rew IDork of IJeeterba^ 



Dates 


Names 


Parents 


Nov. 


7 


Mary Eliza 


William B. Holmes 






born Oct. 10, 


Hannah Stanton 






1818 




Dec. 


2 


George, born 


James C. Somerindyke 






Aug. 23,1818 


Mary Tates (Yates?) 


1819 








Jan. 


3 


Wm. Albert- 


Sponsor, 






son, about 


Mr. John Asten 






seven years 








old 




Jan. 


31 


George, born 


James Shurtliff 






Dec. 20, 1818 


Sarah Morrow 


Feb. 


10 


James Carlton, 


William Burnham 






born May 15, 


Eliza Beck 






1814 








Mary Louisa, 








born Jan. 5, 








1817 




Apr. 


25 


Isaac Varian, 


Thomas J. Stevens 






born Dec. 19, 


Letitia Varian 






1818 




Apr. 


30 


Elizabeth Olivei 


• a colored woman 


June 27 


Charles Kelly, 


John N. Dusenberry 






born Mar. 23, 


Sarah Leggett 






1819 




June 


30 


Margaret, born 


Nathan Cook 






May 15, 1811 


Elizabeth Adamson 






Susanna, born 








Jan. 20, 1814 








EHzabeth, born 








July25, 1816 








Thomas, born 








May 31, 1819 




July 


II 


Barbary Ann, 


Isaac Leggett 






born Mar. 


Barbary Kelly 






20, 1819 




Oct. 


3 


Mary Eliza- 


Isaac L. Varian 






beth, born — 


Catharine Dusenberry 


Nov. 


5 


Maria Varick, 


Sam'l A. Lawrence 






bom 


Catharine Remsen 



IDltal Statistics 



491 



Dates 
1820 
Jan. 5 

May 28 

July 2 

July 16 
Nov. 20 

1821 
Mar. II 

Apr. 22 

Apr. 28 



Aug. 19 
Sept. 23 



1822 
Jan. 2 

Apr. 7 



Names 

William, born 
July 15,1818 
Jane 

Mary Striker, 
born May 13, 
1820 

Three children 

Isaac Leggett, 
born Sept. 
12, 1820 

Mary Ward, 
born Dec. 20, 
1820 

James Amasa, 
bom Sept. 1 4, 
1820 

Sarah Ann, 
bom Aug. 15, 
1816 

Hannah Maria, 
born Aug. 21, 
1816 

Benjamin Alex- 
ander, born 
July 3, 1820 

Henrietta, born 
Mar. 14, 1821 

James Thomas, 
born Aug. 
10, 1821 



Harriet, born 
Oct. 2, 1 82 1 

John, bomDec. 
2, 1821 



Parents 

Henry Beams 
Margaret George 
Hamilton Brown 
Catharine Lawrence 
John S. Watkins 
Helen Striker 

James Randell, colored man 

Cornelia 

John N. Dusenberry 

Sarah Leggett 



William Varian 
Susan Cornell 

James Shurtliff 
Sarah Morrow 

Sam'l van Norden 
Maria Quackenbush 



Isaac Leggett 
Barbary Kelly 

Joseph Cornell 
Maria Striker 



John S. Watkins 
Helen Striker 

John Wilson 
Catharine Hutchison 



492 



Zbc 1Rew IPork of IJesterba^ 



Dates 


Names 


Parents 


June 


8 


Sarah Stakes, 
born Oct. 15, 
1816 


John Cosine 
Sarah Kent 


June 


30 


Margaret Fake, 
bomApr. 26, 
1822 


Sam'l van Norden 
Maria Quackenbush 


Aug. 


18 


Letitia Stevens 
born July 19, 
1822 


William Varian 
Susan Cornell 


Aug. 


18 


David, born 
July 7, 1822 


Timothy Colvin 
Sarah Ann Cornell 


Dec. 


18 


John Park 
Hamilton, 
born Feb. 25, 
1817 


Mother, Isabella Ham 


Dec. 


30 


Sarah Frances, 
bornJune2 7, 
1820 

Emeline, born 
Julyi3, 1822 


John E. Ross 
Jane F. Hageman 


1823 
Feb. 


16 


Samuel Liscom 
about eight 
years old 


Sponsor, 
Henry Post 


May 
May 


7 
7 


Mary EHza Mc- 
Night, bom 
May 6, 1817 

Charles Darke, 
born Jan. 29, 
1823 

Hannah, born 
July 8, 1820 


Mary Shurtliff, 
Sponsor 

William B. Holmes 
Hannah Stanton 


Nov. 


19 


Thomas George 
bom July 2 8, 
1823 


Thomas J. Stevens 
Letitia Varian 


Dec. 


3 


Charles, born 
May 31, 1821 


William Bumham 
Eliza Beck 


Dec. 


24 


E 1 s p e t, born 
Nov. 12,1823 


John Wilson 
Catharine Hutchinson 



IDltal Stati0tlC0 



493 



Datei 




Names 


Parents 


1824 








Jan, 


7 


Tamar Varian, 


Isaac Leggett 






born June 5, 


Barbary Kelly 






1823 




Jan. 


7 


Sarah Emeline, 


John N. Dusenberry 






bom July 3, 


Sarah Leggett 






1823 




Feb. 


25 


Catharinejane, 


Cornelius Westerfield 






bom Sept. 


Rachel Ackerman 






8, 1824, died 








Sept.16,1859 




Aug. 


17 


John Knififen 


John Williams 






Williams, 


Susannah Kniffen 






born May 7, 








1820 




Aug. 


23 


Eugene, born 


Sam'l A. Lawrence 






Oct. 6, 1823 


Catharine Remsen 


Aug. 


23 


John James, 


Sam'l van Orden 






born Jan. 20 


Maria Quackenbush 






1824 




Oct. 


25 


Isaac, born 


Isaac L. Varian 






May 19, 1824 


Catharine Dusenberry 


Oct. 


25 


William Henry, 


William Varian 






born Feb. 12, 


Susan Cornell 






1824 




Oct. 


10 


Martha, born 


Robert Kinkade 






Mar. 7, 1824 


Margaret Scott 


1825 








Apr. 


30 


Samuel Aldrich 
Savage 


Adult 


Aug. 


5 


William Thom- 


Thomas J. Emmon s 






as, born Feb. 


Maria Shurtliff 






25, 1825 




Aug. 


5 


John Alexan- 


Joel Post 






der, Dec. 14, 


Alma Floyd 






1824 




Sept. 


15 


William Ed- 


Cornelius Westerfield 






win, born 


Rachel Ackerman 






Feb. 18, 1825 





494 ^be IRew 13ork of IDesterba^ 



Dates 


Names 


Parents 


Oct. 


I 


Mary Lansing, 


Arthur Tappan 






born Oct. 24, 


Frances Antill 






1823 








Arthur, born 








Sept. I, 1825 




Dec. 


28 


William Henry, 


John Williams 






born Nov. i, 


Susannah Kniffen 






1825 




1826 








Mar. 


22 


Nathaniel, 


Wm. B. Holmes 






born Jan. i, 


Hannah Stanton 






1826 




" 


(( 


Leah Jane, 


Sam'l van Orden 
Maria Quackenbush 


Aug. 


18 


John Jacob, 


Tho. J. Stevens 






born Mar. 6, 


Letitia Varian 






1826 




1827 








Jan. 


3 


Mary Catha- 


Tho. J. Emmons 






rine, born 


Maria ShurtHff 






Junei7, 1826 




Sept. 


27 


Magdalen Rit- 


Abr'm A. Prall 






ter, born 


Joanna H. Harsen 






Aug. 19, 1826 




Oct. 


I 


Benjamin, 


Benjamin Stephens, Jr, 






born June 


Hannah M. Prall 






12, 1826 




1828 








Jan. 


21 


Peter Adrian 


John E. Ross 






Hegeman, 


Jane F. Hageman 






born Oct. 6, 








1826 




Feb. 


13 


Mary Isabella, 


George Martin 






born June 5, 


Hannah Smith 






1823 








Jonathan 








Crawford, 








born Dec. 16, 








1827 





Dital Stati6tlc6 



495 



Dates 




Names 


Parents 


Apr. 


27 


Horatio, born 
Feb. I, 1828 


Tho. J. Emmons 
Maria Shurtliff 


May 


2 


Rachel, born 
Feb. 28, 1828 


Cornelius Westerfield 
Rachel Ackerman 


May 


II 


John Jacob, 
born Dec. 
15, 1827 


Jacob Naugle 
Eleanor Westervelt 


May 


18 


Samuel George 
born 


Sam'l van Orden 
Maria Quackenbush 


May 


24 


Herman Cas- 
par, born 
March 22, 
1828 


Laurenz N. Von Post 
Henrietta M. Meier 


June 


2 


John Peter 
born Feb. 
26, 1828 

George Thom- 
as, born Apr. 
12, 1826 


John Peter Dieterick 
Euphemia Blanch 


June 


2 


Robert Augus- 
tus, born 
Dec. 4, 1827 


Rob't Lane 

Effe Maria van Zandt 


Aug. 


3 


First Day 
Thomas, 
born Jan. 14, 
1828 


John K. Jackson 
Jane R. Welsh 


Dec. 


9 


Albert Russel, 
born Aug. 2, 
1828 


Joseph Cornell 
Maria Striker 


1829 
Feb. 


5 


Hannah Maria, 
born July 
10, 1828 


Ab'm A. Prall 
Joanna H. Harsen 


Apr. 


27 


Martin Smith, 
born Apr. 
26, 1829 


Henry Ulrick 
Elizabeth Smith 



496 Z\)c 1Rew 13ork of ^cetcvba^ 

REGISTER OF BAPTISMS 



By Francis M. Kip. 

Pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church at Bloomingdale, 
October, 1830. 



1830 
Oct. 10 



Oct. 31 



Nov. 7 
1831 
Mar. I 



Maria, born 
Aug. 8, 1829 
Child, sick, 
private bap- 
tism 

Elizabeth Ade- 
line, born 
Sept. II, 
1830 

Maria Samler 



At Tompkins- 
ville, S. I., 

Sarah Smith 
Kip, born 
Oct., 1830 

Mar. 23 John Moore, 
born Feb., 

1831 
Child sick — 
private bap- 
tism — dead 

May Charles Ritter 

May 20 John, born May 
19,1831. Pri- 
vate bap. 
at funeral 
of mother. 
(Died in giv- 
ing it birth) 

June 30 B e nj a m i n, 
born Mar., 
1829 



Thomas J. Emmons 
Maria Shurtliff 



Samuel van Orden (absent) 
Maria Quackenbush 



Adult 

Rev. John E. Miller 
Ann Kip 



John Darke 
Margery Moore 



Adult, on confession 
John Windust 
Mary 



Cambridge Ritter 
Eliza Dey 



IDItal Statistics 



497 



June 30 


Cambridge, 


Cambridge Ritter 




born July, 


Eliza Dey 




1830. Pri- 






vate b a p- 






tism. Last 






child sick — 


_ 




dead 




Sept. 5 


James Thomas, 


Joseph Cornell 




born Feb. 19, 


Maria Striker 




1831 




Sept. 2 5 


Charles Bun- 


Thomas J. Stevens 




ner, born 


Letitia Varian 




Apr. 6, 1 83 1 




Sept. 30 


Julia Maria, 


William Burnham 




born Apr. i, 


EUza Beck 




1819 






Harriet New- 






ell, born Aug, 






30, 1824 






Cordelia Ma- 






tilda, born 






June 15, 






1828 




Sept. 30 


Caroline, born 


Lawrence van Buskirk 




Feb. 8, 1826 


Ann Burnham 




Sylvester 






Swift, Oct. 






6, 1828 






Wm. Lawrence, 






Feb. 13, 1830 




Dec. 24 


Mary Thomp- 


John Darke 




son, born 


Margery Moore 




Aug. 9,1832. 






Baptized 






by Rev. J. 






AlBurtis 




1833 






Jan. 


Child of 


Cambridge Ritter and 
Eliza Dey 


Mar. 


Mary Eliza- 


Cornelius and Rachel 




beth, dau. of 


Westerfield 



498 
Mar. 



1835 
Aug. 21 



1836 

Apr. 30 

Apr. 29 
Dec. II 



Dec. 25 



Dec. 25 

1837 
June 20 



Z\)c IRevp ^ovU of IPeaterbai? 

Helen Maria, John Darke 
bornSept.23, Margery Moore 
1834. Bap- 
tized Feb. 15, 
1 83 5, by Rev. 
Wm.Labagh, 
son of the Al- 
derman. Re- 
gistered by 
J. H. vStriker 
(Deacon and 
Secretary) 

RECORD OF BAPTISMS 

By Enoch van Aken. 

Martha Eliza- Cambridge Ritter } , , 
beth, born Eliza Dey j- colore a 

Apr. 10, 1835 



Elizabeth Ann 
Post, born 
Nov.17,1835 

Edward Au- 
gustus, born 
July 20, 1835 

William Carey, 
born Oct. 21, 

1833 
Charles Henry, 

born Aug. 4, 

1835 
Sarah Jane, 

born Dec. 12, 

1836 
Susan (colored), 

born Aug. 6, 

1830 
Edward Morti- 
mer, born 
Feb. 8, 1837 



Samuel Armant 
Maria Noble 

Thomas J. Emmons 
Maria Shurtliff 

Eckley Fitch 



Peter A. Horn 
Sarah Cosine 

Offered in baptism by widow 
Sarah Cozine 



Gerard W. Livingston 
Cornelia de Peyster 



IDital Statistics 



499 



Aug. 4 



Sept. 1 7 
Oct. I 

Nov. 19 

1838 
Feb. 4 

Feb. 14 
Mar. 4 



July 22 
July 29 



Martha Eliza- 
beth, born 
Oct. 4, 1824 

Caroline, born 
Jan. 10, 1828 

WilliamHenry, 
born Dec. 
17. 1831 

Charles Lalle- 
mand, born 
Feb. 4, 1833 

Whitfield Skel- 
lorn, born 
Apr. 5, 1835 

John, born — 

James Elisha, 

bornDec. 31, 

1836 
Ann Eliza, 

born July 

22, 1837 

Margaretta A. 

PeflEers 
Hugh Roland, 

bornDec. 26, 

1833 
Mary, born 
Mar. 2, 1838 



Margaret, born 
Apr. 26,1829 

James, born 

Aug. 25, 1831 
William, born 

Sept.17,1833 
Child, born 

July 12,1838 
Cornelia, born 

Nov. 28, 1387 



James C. Somerindyke 
Mary Tates (Yates?) 

The mother alone offered the 
children 



Cambridge Ritter 
Eliza Dey 
Gurdon S. Coit 
Mary Ann Burbrige 

Eckley Fitch 



Adult 

Hugh Graham 
Mary Patterson 

Thomas J. Emmons 
Maria Shurtliff (the mother 
being dead, the father alone 
answered) 

McGuinnis 

Mary Law 

(The mother alone answered) 



John Fadden 
Charlotte Haden 



Lewis Ritter 
Lucretia Ritter 



colored 



500 



Zhe 1Rew l?orft of l?e6terbai? 



Aug. 


3 


WilliamHenry, 


Wm. H. Moore 






born June 5, 


Letitia Jane Ross 






1836 




Aug. 


5 


Kezia HilHs, 


McGuirmis 






born Mar. II, 


Mary Law. (The mother alone 






1838 


answered) 






Charles, born 


Charles Ritter 






July I, 1838 


Salley Dey 


Nov. 


2 


Jane, born Jan. 


James Nish 






26,1825 


Isabella Halden 






Marion, born 








Dec. 7, 1826 








Isabella, born 








Aug. 4. 1828 








Mary, born 








Dec. 26,1831 








Rachel, born 








Dec. 18,1836 




Nov. 


II 


Jane, born — 
William born — 


Jane Sanford (colored) 


Nov. 


29 


Thomas An- 


George Dean 






drew, born 


Eliza Buel 






Dec. 11,1823 




1839 








Jan. 


27 


William Edgar, 


Wm. E. Haskins 






born Sept. 8, 


Elizabeth Waite 






1836 








David, born 








Apr. 4, 1838 




Feb. 


3 


James Foster 
Bradley 


Adult 


Mar. 


29 


George (col- 


Samuel Scroggins 






ored) , born 


Jane Ritter. (The mother alone 






Aug. 8, 1 83 1 


answered) 


1840 








Jan. 


9 


Maria, born 








Sept. 2, 1828 


Charles Darke, Sr. 






Richard, born 


Temperance Rebecca Hayden 






Sept. 1 1, 1830 








Temperance 








Rebecca, 








born June 








24, 1832 





Dital Statistics 



501 



Jan. < 


? 


Charles 


Charles Darke, Sr. 






Holmes.born 


Temperance Rebecca Hayden 






Oct. 12, 1836 








Emma, born 








Aug. I, 1838 




Feb. 


19 


Jane Frances, 


Wm. H. Moore 






born Mar. 


Letitia Jane Ross 






26, 1839 




May- 


3 


Ann, born Apr. 


John Fadden 






II, 1840 


Charlotte Haden 


May 


17 


Grace Bethia, 


Robert Cameron 






born Dec. 


Ann Right 






17.1839 




June 28 


Mary, born 


James Berwick 






July 9, 1839 


Mary Laurie Berwick 


July 


6 


Maria Louisa, 


John W. Smith 






born July 28, 


Julia Lawrence 






1833 








Rosa Patience, 








born Nov. 








19,1835 




Aug. 


21 


Peter Nichols, 


Olof Peterson 






born July 


Ann Maria Gould 






24, 1838 








John Hallam, 








born Apr. 7, 








1840 




Sept. 


13 


Gulick, born 


Enoch van Aken ) Baptized by 
Eliza Gulick [ John Knox, 






Apr. 22,1840 








D.D. 


Nov. 


3 


Emma Delia, 


Cornelius Westerfield 






born Apr. 23, 


Rachel Ackerman 






1840 




Nov. 


7 


William, born 


William Love 






Dec. 28,1840 


Ann Maria Brigs 


1841 








Jan. 


12 


Ann Maria, 


Charles Ritter 






born Apr. 24, 


Sally Dey 






1840 





502 



TOe Bew l?ork of l^eeterba^ 



Jan. 17 

Feb. 7 
Feb. 28 



Aug. 8 

Oct. 13 
Nov. 21 



1842 
Apr. 28 



July 10 
July 27 

Aug. 5 
Aug. 26 

Oct. 4 



Isabella, born 

June 10, 

1840 
Emma, born 

July 29, 1841 
Catharine, 

born Apr. 

25, 1839 
Alexander, 

born Feb. 

27, 1841 
Emma, born 

July 19, 

1841 
Almira, born 

May 4, 1840 
NicholasTrimi- 

per, born 

Sept. 22,1838 
Ch a r 1 e s B., 

born Feb. i, 

1841 

Ellen Brigham 
wife of Jas. 
Bowley 

Sarah Eliza- 
beth, born 
Mar. 30, 1842 

Henry, born 
August 7, 
1842 

William 

Holmes, Sr. 

Louisa, born 
Nov. 17,1841 

John Henry, 
born Apr. 
16, 1837 

James Farring- 
t on, born 
Sept.21,1839 



George Watson 
Isabella Slorach 

John Freeman 
Mary Harriot 
William Clark 
Ann Reid 



Charles Darke 

Temperance Rebecca Hayden 



colored 



John Bush 
Julia Ann 
George McCartney 
Mary Ann Corkey 



Adult 



George Magrath 
Sarah E. Hanaway 

David S. Jackson 
Sarah C. Williams 

Adult 

Abel Alexander 
Elizabeth Bailey, 

answered) 
James Bowley 
Ellen Brigfham 



(She alone 



IDital Statl0tiC6 



503 



1843 

Jan. 30 



Mar. 19 

Apr. 20 

May 10 
Nov. 12 
Nov. 26 



1844 
Mar. 25 

Oct. 27 

1845 
July 31 



Maria, widow Adult 
of Jas. Dooly. 
Maiden name 
Herril 



William 

Holmes,born 
Oct. 20, 1833 

James, born 
Oct. 6, 183 s 

Emily Maria, 
born Nov. 9, 
1842 

Walter James, 
born Apr. 
19, 1843 

Henrietta 
Quick, aged 
8^ months 

Georgiana Ma- 
ria,bornApr. 
18, 1841 

Sarah Louisa 
Ross, born 
Aug. 30, 
1843, bap- 
tized by Geo. 
Potts. D.D., 
during the 
pastor's ab- 
sence at the 
South. 

Mary EHza- 
beth, born 
Feb. 13, 1844 

Eliza Jane Co- 
zine, born 
Dec. 23,1843 

Harriet Eliza, 
born Sept. 4, 



Eldridge Brooks 
Augusta Maria Holmes 
(The mother alone the sponsor) 



Gerard Wm. Livingston 
Cornelia de Peyster 

Geo. Watson 
Isabella Slorach 

Wm. Frederick 
Catharine Quick 

Baptized by Rev. Mr. Meeker 
Wm. H. Moore 
Letitia Jane Ross 



Henrick Dagenhardt 

Mary Magdalena Freuligh 

at Black Creek, E. Florida 
James Bowley 
Ellen Brigham 



Wm. Ilsley 



504 Zhc 1Rew l?orR of l?e6ter^a)^ 



July 31 



Oct. 26 

Nov. 

1846 
Mar. II 



1847 
Feb. 18 



Apr. 18 
Apr. 30 
May 16 
June 20 



July 30 

1849 
Apr. 29 



William Chris- 
topher, born 
Jan. 2, 1845 

Leonard Fred- 
erick, born 
May 5, 1845 

Harriet, born 
Mar. 17,1845 

Maria, born 
Aug. 29, 1845 



Cosine, 
Jan. 9, 



born 
1846 



Jacob Henry, 
born May i, 

1843 
Sarah Louisa, 

born Mar. 6, 
1845 

Catharine Jane, 
bornDec.25, 
1846 

Catharine, 
born Apr. 4, 
1847. Died 

Minard Lefe- 
ver, born 
June II, 1846 

Robert Thomp- 
son, born 
Dec. 21, 1846 

Jane Cosine, 
born May 7, 
1847 

James, born 
Mar. 7, 1848 

Sarah Jane El- 
len, born — 



Mary Beckley 



Leonard Beckley 
Emily Steele 

Wm. E. Haskins 
EHzabeth Waite 
George Hanaway 
Martha Moore 

James H. Dorland 

Jane A. Cosine. She alone 

answered 
Charles Ritter 
Sally Dey 



colored 



John Murphy 
Catharine Carrolton. 



She alone 



was sponsor 

Archibald Gardner 

Ann Clark. He alone was spon- 
sor, she having deceased 

James Bowley 

Ellen Brigham. She alone an- 
swered 

John Jasper 

Catharine Thompson 

James H. Dorland 
Jane A. Cozine. She alone an- 
swered 

George Hanaway 
Martha Moore 

James Robinson 



IDital Statistics 



505 



July 22 
Sept. 1 7 



1850 
Jan. 20 



May 5 
May 12 

Sept. I 



1851 
July 13 

Oct. 26 

Nov. 9 
Nov. 27 

Dec. 25 



Harriet Ann, 

born Apr. 14, 

1849 
Rebecca, born 

Nov. 23,1847 
Sarah Martha, 

born July 

14, 1849 



Robert, born 

Jan. I, 1847 
William, born 

Oct. 2, 1849 
Marion Biss- 

land 
Ellen Maria, 

born May 

24, 1848 

John Henry, 
born Aug. 8, 
1847 

ElizabethAme- 
lia, born 
June 14, 
1850 



Emma Eliza- 
beth, born 
July 22, 1847 

John Leder, 
born Sept. 
10, 1850 

Sarah, born 
Aug. 7, 1851 

Clementine, 
bom Nov. 
23, 1851 

Josephine Em- 
ma Frances, 
bom Mar. 1 7, 
1847 



John Jasper 
Catharine Thompson 

Nathaniel Holmes 
Rebecca Beard 



Robert Thorp 
EHzabeth McAHster 



Adult 

Charles Ritter \ 
Sally Dey j 

Henry Steele 
Elizabeth Darke 



colored 



Wm. E. Haskins 
Elizabeth Waite 

John Fadden 
Sarah Ann Cortjohn 

George Hanaway 
Martha Moore 
Clement Russ 
Emeline Jones 

Edmond A. Peffers 
Caroline Burr Jennings 



5o6 



^be 1Rew ^ov\{ of ipesterbai? 



Dec. 


25 


Sylvester Joseph 


Edmond A. Peffers 






Henry, borr 


1 Caroline Burr Jennings 






Sept. 6, 1849 




1852 








Jan. 


12 


Hester Jose- 


John Henry Runnells 






phine, born 


Hester Topping 






May 4, 1848 








John George, 








born Dec. 3, 








1850 




Mar. 


23 


George Alex- 


George Robertson 






ander, born 


Ann Eraser 






Aug. 5, 1851 




Aug. 


22 


WilliamHenry, 


John Jasper 






born Mar. 16, 


Catharine Thompson 






1852 




Sept. 


29 


Alexander Gu- 


John van Aken 






lick, bom 


Jane G. Gulick 






Jan. 17, 1852 




Oct. 


24 


Marie Salome, 


John Frederick Schmidt 






bom Jan. 14, 


Joanna Schmidt 






1850 


(maiden name Joanna Sleezer) 


Oct. 


24 


John, born. 


John Whitehead 






Nov. 8, 1852 


Mary Moore 






Harriet, born 


Alexander Ray Skinner 






Feb. 3, 1853 


Ann Eliza Purdy 


1853 








Aug. 


5 


Elizabeth 

Holmes, 
widow of Mr. 
Darke 


Adult 


Aug. 


14 


John, born 


Joseph Conly ) baptized by 
Ann Jane Francey j" Jas. Mat- 






Nov. 28, 






1851 


thews.D.D. 


Nov. 


4 


Martha, bom 


Duncan Macfarlan 






July 16, 1848 


Agnes Biggart 






Duncan, bom 








Nov. 6, 1851 




Nov 


6 


David, born 


James Packhard 






Apr. 13, 1853 


Harriet Head 



IDital Stati0tic0 



507 



1854 

Feb. 5 



Feb. 13 



May 4 
July 23 
July 30 

Sept. 7 

Dec. 20 



1855 
Mar. 12 



May 5 



Martha RofE, 
bom Oct. 10, 
1836 

Thomas Frank- 
lin, bom Jan. 
26, 1854 

Francis Smith, 
bom Oct. I, 
1850 

Samuel, bom 
Dec. I, 1853 

John, born 
June 11,1853 

Alexander, 

bomMar. 28, 

1854 
Enoch, bom 

April 19, 

1854 
Emily Louise, 

bom Aug. 

28, 1848 
Ch ar 1 o t t e 

Pride, born 

Jan. 22, 1851 
John Weyman, 

born Jan. 11, 

1851 
Susan Cornelia, 

bom Apr. 11, 

1853 
Virginia Tal- 

cott, born 
Nov. 2, 1850 

Mary Isabella, 
bom Dec. 8, 
1852 

George Rat- 
clifE, born 
Dec. 24,1854 



Adult 



Thomas Shepherd 
Caroline Somerindyke 

Father dead 
Catharine Luginbehl 

George Hanaway 
Martha Moore 

Duncan Macfarlan 
Agnes Biggart 

Alexander Ray Skinner 
Ann Eliza Purdy 

John van Aken 
Jane G. Gulick 

Wm. G. Tompkins 
Jane Elizabeth Gassner 



John A. Gassner 
Ellen Kyle 



Sylvester S. van Buskirk 
Sarah Josephine Gassner 



Alex. R. Rider 
Isabella Jones 

George Robertson 
Ann Frazer 



5o8 



^be 1Rew l?orft of IJesterDa^ 



June 24 


Adolphus.born 


Robert Hoffman 






Mar. 15,1852 


Maria Stiller 






Louisa, born 








Oct. 29, 1854 




July 


15 


Elizabeth, 


James Hanaway 






born Apr. 


Margaret Kelly 






18,1855 




July 


22 


TheodoreAdee, 


John Jasper 






born Oct. 10, 


Catharine Thompson 






1854 




1856 








May 


19 


Ellen Augusta, 


Kindred Howard 






born Feb. 


Hannah S. Holmes 






25, 1849 








Charles Henry, 








born Dec. 








28, 1850 








Elizabeth Tip- 








pell, born 








May 19,1852 




Nov. 


I 


Sarah, wife of 
Isaac Caryl 


Adult 


Nov. 


9 


William John, 


EHjah Watts 






born Dec. 31, 


Eliza Watts (maiden, Edington) 






1854 








Emma Matilda 








born Mar. 13, 








1856 




Nov. 


9 


Marian, born 


Alexander Ray Skinner 






Mar. 16,1856 


Ann Eliza Purdy 


Dec. 


25 


George Henry. 


John Frederick Schmidt 






born June 


Joanna Sleezer 






19, 1856 




1857 








May 


24 


Joseph Robi- 


John Jasper 






son, born 


Catharine Thompson 






Jan. 15,1857. 








Died 1862 





Oct. 4 Margaret, born James Hanaway 
Aug. 4, 1857 Margaret Kelly 



IDital Statistics 



509 



1858 

Apr. 30 



May 23 

Aug. 15 
Aug. 28 

Sept. 2 6 

Nov. 4 

1859 
Jan. 2 



Deborah Parks Adult 

wife of George 

Findley 
Kate Morgan Adult 

Holmes, wife 

of Wm. Kelly 
Jane, born — 



Aug. 14 



Frederick Ed- 

ington, born 

Jan. 13, 1858 
E valine, born 

Feb. 19, 1858 
John Kell, born 

May IS, 1858 
Caroline Lewis, 

born Sept. i, 

185s 
Eliza, (died.) 

bom July 

30, 1858 
Amelia Stok- 

ley 

James William, 
born Apr. 16, 

1845 
Oliver Martin, 

bom Apr. 29, 

1848 
Robert Hilton, 

born Feb. 9, 

1853 
William Henry 

bom Dec. 26, 

1855 
Eliza Jane, 

bom June 

12, 1858 
Mary Anna, 

bom Mar. 

27, 1850 



WilHam Kelly 
Kate M. Holmes 
Elijah Watts 
Eliza Edington 

Nicholas Hays 
Caroline Shricy 
John Kell Curtis 
Mary F. Gibson 
John Wendelken 
Matilda Lewis 

Alexander R. Skinner 
Ann Eliza Purdy 

Adult 



Robert H. Arkenburgh 
EHza Stokley 



William Ilsley 
Mary Beckley 



5IO Zbc IRew l?orft of l?e0tert)ai? 

Aug. 14 Emma Jane, William Ilsley 

born Oct. 27, Mary Beckley 
1852 

Mary Ilsley, Leonard Beckley 

born May II, Emily Steele 
1858 

Sept. 1 1 Josephine, Francis J. Felix 

born May 1 5 , Harriet B aker 

1856 widow of Purdy 

i860 

Mar. 18 Jane, born Oct. James Hanaway 

28, 1859 Margaret Kelly 

May 27 Edward Eli, Elijah Watts 

born Oct. 15, Eliza Edington 

1859 

June 23 Sarah Maria, Andrew Anderson 

born March Jane Bogert 

12, 1850 
JaneAnna, 

bom Apr. 3, 

1856 

Aug. 5 John Bissland, John Carss 

bomDec.io, Marion Bissland 

1859 

Sept. 16 Jessie (died Alexander R. Skinne 

Apr. I, 1863) Ann Eliza Purdy 

bornJune2 5, 

i860 

Oct. 7 Esther, born Wm. McCloy 

Sept. 7, i860 Elizabeth Houston (died Mar. 
1861) 

Oct. 7 John James, John Taggert 

born Aug. Mary Ann Taggert 

19, i860 

Oct. 28 Henry S., born Thomas S. Mitchell 

Apr. 23,1860 Emma P. Moore 
1861 

Feb. 21 James William, John K. Curtis 

born Oct. 24, Mary F. Gibson 

i860 

May 25 Richard, born, Wm. Murfitt 

Oct. 25,1860 Sophia Broad well 



IDltal Statistics 



511 



Oct. 20 

Nov, 3 
June 23 



1862 
Mar. 9 



Mar. 



Apr. 23 

Apr. 23 

Apr. 
Nov. 9 



Dec. 7 



Geo. Washing- 
ton, born 
Feb. 2, i860 

Henry S.Mitch- 
ell 

Louis Wilhelm 
Henry, born 
Dec. 29,1860 

Robert Henry, 
bom Oct. 19, 

1855 

Lily, born June 
18, 1858 

Sersely, bom 
June 18, 1861 

Lydia, born 
Feb. 26,1852 

William Sav- 
age, born 
Sept. 22, 

1854 

Eliza, born 
Mar. 6, 1858 

Frederick Wil- 
liam, bom 
Apr. 29,1861 

Francis Adams 
born June 
25, 1861 

Rebecca born 
May 3, 1862 

Nancy Jane 
Thompson, 
wife of Thom- 
as Butler 
(colored) 
Susan, born 
Oct. 25, 1862 

AnnaTheressa, 
born Aug. 
22, 1862 



George W. Pimley 
Ann Humphrey 

Adult 

Louis Kable Starke 
Theressa Blanck 



Rob't Henry Blanck 
Teressa Doyle 



Alex'r Bennett 
Eliza Brunish 



Wm. H. Mitchell 
Melinna Eldridge 

Thomas S. Mitchell 
Emma P. Moore 

Alexander Ray Skinner 
Ann EHza Purdy 
Adult 



Thomas Butler 
Nancy Jane Thompson 

Louis Kable Starke 
Theressa Blanck 



512 



Zhc IRew l?ork of JDesterOai? 



Dec. 


7 


Amelia Mar- 


Ernest Charles Henry Starke 






getta, born 


Amelia Ann Blunt 






Nov. 27,1858 




1863 








Feb. 


I 


Rachel Ann, 


John Taggert 






born Sept. 


Mary Ann Taggert 






26, 1862 








Elizabeth, 


Wm. Murfitt 






born Dec. 25, 


Sophia Broadwell. She alone 






1852 


responded 






Hannah, born 








Jan. 17, 1854 








John, born Sept. 








i7> 1855 








Jane, born Nov. 








2, 1862 




May- 


24 


Mary, born 


Michael Gerth 






Feb. 18, 1863 


Elizabeth Geebel 


June 2 1 


Albert Edwin, 


Thomas S. Mitchell 






bom Dec. 14, 


Emma P. Moore 






1862 




July 


19 


Mary Catha- 


John Carss 






rine, born 


Marion Bisland 






Dec.28,1861 




Aug. 


16 


Harriet, born 


Wm. G. Purdy 






1863 


Rebecca Gardner 


Aug. 


16 


Charles Wil- 


Philip Grazier 






liam, bom 


Eliza Fetgre 






July 13, 1863 




Aug. 


30 


Joseph, bom 


James Hanaway 






Apr. 14, 1862 


Margaret Kelly 


Dec. 


9 


Maria Rebecca, 


Geo. S. Miller 






bom Oct. 30, 


Maria Rebecca Brock 






1863 




1864 








Feb. 


29 


Samuel Robert 


John K. Curtis 






Marley, born 


Mary F. Gibson 






July 6, 1863 




Aug. 


28 


Christian, born 


Wm. Kroninberger 






Nov. 2, 1863 


Margaret Wagner 






Willie Town- 


Thos. S. Mitchell 






send, born 


Emma P. Moore 






Feb. II, 1864 





IDltal Statistics 



513 



Sept. 1 1 



Oct. 23 



1865 
Feb. 4 



Feb. 20 
Mar. 5 

May 21 

July 23 



Margaret Ann 
Whitworth, 
born Mar. 
25, 1862 

Mary Betsy, 
born June 
II, 1864 

George Anne, 
born Aug. 24, 
1864 

Frank Henry, 
May 4, 1864 

Mary Eliza- 
beth, Sept. 

27. 1859 

David Ritchey, 
born May 30, 
1862 

Barbary Ritch- 
ey, July 24, 
1864 

Charles Wil- 
liam, born 
Apr. 28,1855 

Caroline, born 
Mar. 28,1857 

Thomas Dan- 
iel, bom Apr. 
10, 1853 

David Augus- 
tus, bom 
Dec. 18, 1864 

Fanny Eliza- 
beth, born 
June 12, 1862 

Samuel S.,born 
Oct. 5, 1864 

Charles, bom 
Apr. 8, 1865 

Regena, born 
Mar. 23,1865 



John Eaves 
Emma Whitworth 



Geo. W. Pimley 
Ann Humphrey 

Elijah Watts 
Eliza Edington 
John R. Brown 
Elizabeth Bryen 



Henry C. Smyth 
Martha Sophia Fistgen 



Cornelius Corson 
Julia Caroline Corson 

David Clark Woodmff 
Margaret Smith 

Morris W. Place 
Martha Danes 



Peter Horn 
Margaret Hornberger 



514 ^be mew ^ovk of IJeeterba^ 



July 23 

1866 
Jan. 7 

Apr. 22 

May 5 
May 6 



Dec. 16 



Dec. 30 



1867 

Jan. 13 



May 12 



Oct. 20 



Paul Charles, 
born May 
27, 1865 

Emma Ange- 
line, born 
Feb. 8, 1862 

Emma, aged 15 
months 

Alonzo Blanck 
George Wash- 
ington Au- 
gustus, born 
Feb. 22, 1866 
Warner, born 
Dec. 12,1865 

Emma Poole, 
born July 5, 
1866 

William Henry, 
bomNov. 26, 
i860 

Elizabeth 
Anna, born 
Mar. 9, 1864 

Geo. Washing- 
ton, 

Ida May 

Ernest James, 

born Feb. 11, 

1863 
John Henry, 

bornMay 15, 

1866 

Frances Jose- 
phine, bom 
July 10, 1866 

John Frederick, 
born April 
18, 1866 



Paul Bauer 

Mary Magdalena Raeder 



John Jasper 
Catharine Thompson 

John O. Moore 
Isabella Paisley 

Adult 

Louis K. Starke 

Theressa Blanck 



James Leggett 
Mary Ann McCoy 

Wm. M. Doe 
Dorcas Blackwood 

Wm. Henry Waldron 
Margaret Love 



Born Oct. 15, 1866 



Ernest C. H. Starke 
Amelia Ann Blunt 



Ambrose Felix 
Almira Scofield 

John F. Reynolds 
Henrietta Q. Frederick 



IDital Statistics 515 

Oct. 20 Jane Louisa, Joseph J. Morgan 

born Sep. 23, Sarah L. Frederick 

1866 

Oct. 27 Mary Louisa, Alexander R. Skinner 

born Apr. 2, Janet Skinner 

1864 

Dec. 9 Mary Eliza- Geo. Eaton 

b e t h, born Margaret Jane McGinness 

Dec. 5, 1866 
1868 

Feb. 26 WilliamHenry, George W. Jasper 

born Feb. 3, Jennie Smith 

1867 

Mar. Edwin, born Frederick Kreider 

July 28,1865 Caroline Blatner 

May 17 Eliza Jane, John Harding 

born Jan. 29, Sarah Jane McConaughey 

1868 

BOOK II 
REGISTER OF BAPTISMS 

By E. van Aken, Pastor 

June 7 Edwin Reeves, Morris W. Place 

born Apr. 12, Martha C. Danes 

1867 

June 7 Elizabeth, David Woodruff 

born June Margaret Smith 

13, 1868 

June 7 Clara Augusta, Robert McKenzie 

born Apr. 8, Catharine 

1868 

Oct. II Mary Magdale- Paul Bauer 

na, born June Mary Magdalena Raeder 

7, 1868 

Nov. 8 Elizabeth, John Solway 

born Dec. 10, Elizabeth Fisher 

1867 

Nov. 9 George Palmer, Frederick M. Baxter 

born Dec, 21, Charlotte van Pelt 

1867 



51 6 (nje IRew IPorft of Uesterba^ 

Dec. 27 Henry Mathias Gustav Puhle 

Gustav, born Sophia Hoffman 

Nov. 26, 1868 
1869 
Apr. 9 Elizabeth, John Auld 

born Aug. i, Mary White 

1868 
1870 
Jan. 30 Catharine Ma- David C. Woodruff 

r i a, born Margarett Ann Smith 

Dec. 8, 1869 
July 24 John Jacob, John Jacob Festje 

bom July 4, Amelia Hoffman 



" 31 Mary Emma, Charles Bower 

born Nov. 10, Henrietta Festje 

1867 
" " Charles Henry, 

bom Jan. 30, 

1870 
Sept. 1 1 WilliamHenry, John Harding 

born July i, Sarah Jane McConaughey 

1870, died 

Jan. 9, 1878 
Oct. 2 Margaret, born Robert McKenzie 

Mar., 1870 Catharine 

Dec. 4 William, bom Flick 

June 10, 1869 
1871 
Mar. 19 Annie Maria, Samuel Bawden 

born Jan. Maria Hanaway 

13. 1871 
Apr. 2 Louisa Julia, Paul Bauer 

born Dec. 3, Mary Magdalena Raeder 

1870 
" " Johanes Nich- Johanes Nicholas Eckert 

olas, born Christina Mullock 

May 24,1871 
" " Louis, born Louis K. Starke 

Apr. 16,1871 Teressa Blanck 
Aug. 6 Andrew, bom John Jacob Festje 

Feb. 15,1871 Amelia Hoffman 



IDital Statistics 



517 



1872 








Feb. 


II 


Sarah Louisa 
Rapp, widow 
of Samuel 
Halden 


Adult 


Feb. 


25 


William Henry 


Daniel Bremer 






born Nov. 


Sarah Hanaway 






20, 1871 




Mar. 


6 


George, born 


George Michaels 






Feb. 7, 1872 


Kate Fitting 


June 23 


Bertha Cozine, 


Benjamin Franklin 






born June 2 , 


Jane Cozine Dorland 






1872 




July 


21 


Martha Lane, 


Samuel Bawden 






born Apr. i, 


Maria Hanaway 






1872 




Aug. 


5 


Anna Johanna, 


Frederick Pfenning 






born July 22, 


Catharine Ehmer 






1872 




Nov. 


17 


Henderson 


Julius Palmer Loper 






Rathbone, 


Caroline Rebecca Blick 






born Aug. 5, 








1872 




1873 








Feb. 


2 


Francis White 


Adult 


Mar. 


2 


Margaret Eliz- 


John Harding 






abeth, bom 


Sarah Jane McConaughey 






Jan. 8, 1873, 








died Feb. 27, 








1874 




Dec. 


21 


Daniel, born 


Daniel Bremer 






Oct., 1873 


Sarah Hanaway 


1874 








Jan. 


18 


Henry, born 


Henry Forges 






Dec. 6, 1873 


Emma Festje 


May- 


3 


James, born 


Samuel Bawden 






Mar. 9, 1874, 


Maria Hanaway 






died 




June 14 


Margaret Re- 


Julius (or Jonathan) Palmer 






becca, born 


Loper 






Jan. 30,1874 


Caroline Blick 



5i8 



Zbc IRew l?orJ? of l?esterba^ 



Oct. 4 

1875 

Apr. 5 

Apr. 5 



May 2 
May 9 

Oct. 3 
Dec. 5 
Dec. 17 

1876 

May 7 

July 30 



1877 
Sept.30 



Oct. 28 



Jacob, born 
Aug. 27, 1874 

Henry, born 
Apr. I, 1875 

John West, 
born Sept. 9 
1871 

William Felt- 
well, born 
Apr.30,1874 

Ida May, born 
May I, 1869 

Frank Dana, 
bom Dec. 13, 
1874 

Mary, born 
Apr. 27,1875 

Sarah, born 
Aug. 10, 1875 

Mary Jane Par- 
sons, born 
July 26, 1875 

Charles Conrad 
born Oct. 15, 
1875 

Martha Maria, 
born Sept. 
28, 1875 

Augustus 
James, born 
June 16, 1876 



Michael Gerth 
Elizabeth Gibbins 

William Murfitt 
Sophia Broadwell 
George Guire 
EHzabeth Murfitt 



Charles A. Winch 
Marion Swan Halden 
William Holmes, Jr. 
Sarah Jane Coe 

John Harding 

Sarah Jane McConaughey 

Samuel Bawden 

Maria Hanaway 

John S. Halden 

Adelaide Lewis 



Jacob Freund 
Caroline Bauer 

Daniel Bremer 
Sarah Hanaway 

John Walter^Sokell 
Lizzie Gabbeman 



Frederick Ja- Jacob Freund 
cob, born Caroline Bauer 
July 7, 1877 

Louisa, born Louis Overmayer 
May 3, 1867 Charlotta Overmayer 

Sophia, born 
June 12, 1869 



IDital Stati0tiC0 



519 



1878 

June 2 
June 2 



1879 
Mar. 2 



Apr. 27 
May 25 

June I 

June 15 

Nov. 9 

1880 
Apr. 2 



i«8i 
Mar. 17 



May I 



Louis, born 

May, 1863 
Charlotta, 

bom May 

29, 1875 
Anne, born 

Mar.31,1877 

Martha, born 
November 
19, 1878 

Minnie, born 
Sept. 27,1877 

John Arnold, 
bom Mar. 
19, 1879 

Henrietta Eliz- 
abeth, born 
Apr. 4, 1879 

Louis Charles, 
bom Sept. 
13. 1875 
Isabella Gil- 
more, born 
Aug. 21,1879 

EnochChester, 
bom Feb. i, 
1878 

Harold, bom 
Dec. 18,1879 

Charles August 
Vanna, born 
Sept. 16, 1872 

Philip Michael 
Lewis, born 
Mar. 31,1881 



Louis Overmayer 
Charlotta Overmayer 
Adam Cassel 
Catharine Cassel 



William Mcintosh 
Sophia Blay 

Samuel Bawden 
Maria Hanaway 
Jacob Freund 
Caroline Bauer 

Charles Bower 
Henrietta Festje 

Louis Armsheime 
Emeilie Mahlow 

Samuel Bawden 
Maria Hanaway 



Enoch van Aken 
Mary Fan- 



Robert McKenzie 
Catharine 

Michael Gerhauser 
Charlotte Paulena Rosina 
Pfening 



Unbei 

/IDarriaoes an& Mttnesses 

Witnesses are designated by w 



A 



Ackerman, John, w., 453 
Ackerman, Maria, 453 
Ackerman, Rachel, 453 
Adams, Joseph C, 459 
Adee, Titus K., 463 
Adriance, John, w., 449 
Adriance, Letitia I., 449 
Alexander, Abel, w., 461 2 
Alexander, Ann B., 461 
Alban, Henry, 454 
AlBurtis, Christian, w., 457 
AlBurtis, Rev. John, 457 
AlBurtis, Susanna, 457 
AlBurtis, Wm., w., 457 
Alport, Catharine, 459 
Alport, Maria L., 458 
Amos, Mr., w., 450 
Anderson, Jane, 469, w., 468 
Anderson, Jessie, 460 
Anderson, Mary, 454 
Andrews, Selleck B., 458 
Arell, Elizabeth, 449 
Armanter, John Manuel, 460 
Armstrong, James, w., 455 
Armstrong, Mrs. James, w., 455 
Armstrong, Martin, w., 477 
Ash, Thomas, w., 446 
Asten, John, w., 456 
Atwater, Eliza A., 459 

B 

Babington, Rachel E., 476 
Backus, Charles, w., 464 



Bacon, Mary, 455 
Bainton, Geo., w., 468 
Baker, Phebe, 448 
Baldwin, Eliza J., te;., 466 
Ballard, William, 447 
Ballard, William C, 446 
Barnaby, Annie M., 476 
Barnaby, James O., w., 475 
Barnaby, Thomas J., 474 
Barny, — w., 464 
Bartholf, Abraham, w., 448 
Bartholf, Margaret, 448 
Bashwood, Eliza, 447 
Bawden, Samuel, 474, w., 475 
Bayard, H., w., 457 
Bayard, Harriet, 447, w., 453 
Beadford, Joseph Ball, 452 
Beagle, Peggy, 449 
Bean, Elizabeth, 447 
Beard, Rebecca, 462 
Beckley, Leonard, 460 
Beekman, Abraham, K., w., 450 
Beinhauer, Catharine, 447 
Benedict, Eli, 471 
Bennett, Thos., 452 
Benson, Mr., w., 449 
Berry, Jane, 450 
Bertalf, John, 451, w., 453 
Bertalf, Mary A.,w., 456 
Bissland, Marion, 465 
Bishop, Harriet, 453 
Bishop, Warren, 448 
Blackman, Georgiana, 476 
Blake, Isaac D., 468 
Blanchard, Harrison R., 462 
Blinn, Rev. Henry R., 472 



521 



522 



^be mew l?ork of l^esterba^ 



Bloomer, Phebe, 448 
Bogert, Jane, 469 
Bogert, Jas. Jr., w., 450 
Bogert, John Mc, w., 468 
Bogert, Mary F., 450 
Bogert, Matilda, 467 
Boley, James, w., 460 
Boyd, John N., w., 467 
Boyd, Miriam, 467 
Bowens, Gessum, 459 
Bowley, Mary A., 458 
Bowne, Lewis, 462 
Boxall, Elizabeth, 468 
Bowers, Charles, w., 471 
Boyle, Henry T., 452 
Boyles, Elizabeth, 458 
Bradley, James, 459 
Bremer, Daniel, 474 
Brewster, Jacob W., 453 
Briggs, Jane, 448 
Brock, Maria R., 467 
Brooks, — w., 461 
Brooks, Eldridge H., 457 
Brower, Jane, 453 
Brown, Clarissa A., 454 
Brown, Hamilton, 450, w., 450 
Brown, Margaret, 450 
Brown, Richard, 457 
Brown, Sarah, 461 
Brown, Wm. Palister, 476 
Bruce, Ann, 471 
Buddington, Osias, w., 462 
Buddington, Susan, w., 462 
Bunnell, Edwin, 456 
Burling, Thomas, 448 
Burlock, David L., w., 451 
Burnham, — w. 451 
Burnham, James, w., 458 
Burnham, Michael, w., 453 
Burnham, Wm., w., 457 
Burr, Aaron, w., 452 
Burt, James, 453 
Burtsell, Wm., w., 451 
Byer, A. H., w., 455 
Byron, Christina C, 469 



Cain, Michael, 448 
Cameron, Robert, w., 460 
Campbell, John, 456 
Campbell, Mary W., 463 
Capp, Thomas, 451 
Cargill, David, w., 458 



Cargill, Edward, w., 458 
Cargill, Mrs. Mary, w., 461 
Cargill, Mary, 458 
Carland, John, 450 
Carling, Hannah, 456 
Carling, William, w., 456 
Carss, John, 465 
Carss, Robert, 463 
Caryl, Eliza, 458 
Caryl, Emily, 461 
Caryl, Michael, w., 467 
Castendieck, Charles, 459 
Cato. black man, w., 448 
Chapman, Sarah, 450 
Cheeseborough, Mr., 450 
Church, Hannah, 454 
Church, Robert, 451 
Cisco, Amanda, 459 
Cisco, Ann E., w., 460 
Cisco, Samuel, w., 449 
Cisco, William, w., 459, 460 
Clark, Ellen, 471 
Clark, Maria, w., 447 
Clark, Martha, 447 
Clark, Mary, 448 
Clark, Sarah, 461 
Clary, Eliza, 456 
Clift, James, w., 469 
Clinn, Mahala, 458 
Cole, Ashley William, 476 
Collins, John, 464 
Colvin, Timothy, 453 
Cooper, James, 454 
Cooper, James L., 453 
Cornell, Thos., w., 454 
Cornell, Joseph, 449, w., 452 
Cornell, Sarah A., 453 
Cornell, Susan, 452 
Corson, Caroline A., 469 
Corson, Julia C, w., 469 
Cosine, see also Cozine 
Cosine, Catherine, w., 453 
Cosine, Sarah, w., 463. 467 
Coursen, James, 449 
Coutant, Isaac, w., 452 
Cowan, John, w., 451 
Cowdy, Maria, 464 
Cox, Eliza, w., 461 
Cozine, see also Cosine 
Cozine, Catherine, 449, w., 457 
Cozine, Jane, w., 458 2 
Cozine, Jane A., 462 
Cozine, Sarah, 458, w., 463 
Craft, Mary, 447 
Curtis, John K.. w., 466 



Unbex to flDarriaGCS 



523 



D 



Dains, Joseph, 470 
Dains, William H., w., 470 
Dally, Evaline M., 464 
Dally, John H., w., 463 
Dana, William F., w., 458, 463, 

464 
Darling, Joseph, w., 464 
Darke, Charles, w., 460 
Darke, George, 460 
Darke, John, w., 457 
Darke, Richard, 451, w., 452, 

456, 457 
Darke, William, w., 454 
Davis, Sarah, 460 
Davis, Sarah C, 460 
Davison, William, 458 
Day, John, w., 454 
Day, Mary J., 464 
Deas, Richard M. H., 476 
Decker, Isabella, 476 
Decker, Nancy I., w., 477 
Degroodt, Siny or Liny, 451 
De Labigarre, Maria L., 450 
Derrickson, James G., w , 467 
Dey, Catharine 454 
Dey, Eliza, w., 456, 457 
Dey, Isaac, 457, w., 449, 452, 

454, 456 
Dey, James, w., 457 
Dey, Jane, 457 
Dey, Maria, 452 
Dey, Peter, 452 
Dey, Susan, 449 
Deyo, Andrew P., 469 
Deyo, Lawrence, 469, w , 469 
Deyo, Matthew F., w., 449 
de Voe, Abraham, 467 
Dickerson, William, 458 
Dickson, Jacob, 452, w., 454 
Dinnin, George, 447, w., 447, 

448 
Dirk, — 457 

Dithridge, Edward, w., 455 
Dithridge, Elizabeth, 455 
Dixon, Dr., w., 457 
Doolittle, John L., w., 456 
Dooly, Christina C, 461 
Doran, John, 452 
Doremus, William, 451 
Dorland, James H., 462 
Dorland, Jane, w., 463 2 
Dorland, Jane A., w., 463, 467, 

470 



Dorland, Jane C, 474 
Dorman, Louisa, 451 
Douglas, Henry, 448 
Dowdell, William, 471 
Drake, Jeremiah J., w., 452 
Dubick, I., w., 457 
Dunlap, Nathaniel, w., 453 
Dupleix, Sarah A., 453 
Dusenberry, Catharine, 447, w., 

447 
Dusenberry, Charles K., w., 460 
Dusenberry, John H., 451, w., 

459 
Dusenberry, Sarah E., 459 
Dwight, John, w., 475 
Dyckman, Mr., 451 



E 



Eagleton, Emma, w., 477 
Earl (should be Arell), Eliza- 
beth, 449 
Earle, Henry B., 458 
Eaton, George, 470, w., 471 
Edwards, John H., 464, w., 465 
Elwy, John, w., 451 
Ely, John, 466 
Emerick, David, 465 
Emerick, Elizabeth C, 476 
Emmons, Emily, w., 465 
Emmons, Thomas J., 454 w., 

460, 465 
Engle, Andrew, 459 
Engle, Hiram, 465 
Engle, Mrs. w., 459 
Ensley, Mary, w., 460 
Ensley, William, w., 460 
Evarts, Frederick, 451 
Everett, Metcalf, 474, w., 475 
Everett, William H., 455 



F 



Fairbanks, Rosena, 460 

Fake, George S. 453 

Fake, Margaret, 459 

Farnron, Peter, 463 

Farr, Mary, 476 

Feitner, Daniel, 458, w., 459, 

469 
Feitner, Mary Catharine, 469 
Felix, Ambrose, w., 470 
Felix, Francis, 470, w., 468 
Felix, Robert, w., 463 
Felton, Priscilla, 464 



524 



Zbc mew l?ork of IJeeterbap 



Felton, Zachariah, w., 464 
Findlay, Agnes, w., 475 
Findlay, George, 465, 474, w., 

472, 475 
Fish, Daniel, 454 
Fisher, — , w., 461 
Fisher, Isabella, 456 
Fisher, John, 461 
Fisher, John C, 461 
Fisher, Joseph H., w., 459 
Fisher, Maria, 457 
Fistje, Emma, w., 471 
Fistje, John, 471 
Fleet, Samuel, 457, w., 458, 462, 

463, 465 
Fleet, Sarah, w., 467 
Fleming, Margaret, 455 
Flick, Annie, w., 477 
Flick, Jacob, 476 
Flick, Peter, w., 477 
Florance, Hezekiah, 447 
Fooley, James W., w., 477 
Ford, William, 460 
Foster, Sarah, 457 
Fowle, Francis, 463 
Fowler, Edgar V., 472 
Francis, Thomas, w., 451 
Franck, Mary, 452 
Franks, Lydia, 446 
Franklin, Benjamin, 474 
Freeland, John, 455 
Freeman, Jacob, w., 451 
Freeman, John, w., 462 2 
Freeman, Mrs. Mary, w , 462 
Freeman, Sarah, 451 
Frost, Benjamin, w., 455 
Frost, Susanna D., 455 
Fulmer, Maria, 456 
Fulton, Andrew, 455 
Furniss, Geo. E. S., 461 



Galager, William, 458 
Gallagher, Anna, 450 
Gallagher, James, 450 
Galuba, Charles, w., 469 
Gamage, John, 450 
Gambol, Mrs. — , w., 462 
Gautro, Widow, 454 
Gautro, Xavier, 453 
Gardner, Rebecca, 468 
Garey, Harriet C, 462 
Garret, — , w., 461 
Garret, Eliza J., 461 



Garret, Martha, E., 461 
Garretson, Eliza, w., 464 
Gassner, Daniel, w-, 462 
Gassner, Jane E., 462 
Gavatt, James, 448 
Geiar, Barbara, 476 
Genet, Edmond Charles, 449 
George, James, 455 
Gilland, Thomas, 467 
Gillie, George, w., 471 
Golden, Eliza, 459 
Golding, Sarah A., 461 
Goodburn, William F., w., 468 
Gordon, Agnes, 474 
Gordon, Joanna, 463 
Graham, Wm. G., 465 
Griffin, C. G., w., 463 
Griffiths, Jeremiah, 449 
Gruenart, Henry, 450 
Guest, Abraham, w., 461 
Guest, Elizabeth, 449 
Guest, Francis B., 461 
Gulick, Alexander, w., 459 * 
Gulick, Catharine, w., 459 
Gulick, David, w., 471 
Gulick, Jane G., w., 460 
Gulick, Mary F., 459, w., 459 ' 
Gulick, Mary S., w., 458 
Gulick, Nancy S., w., 460 
Gulick, Rachel McD., 476 
Gunn, George, w., 446, 447 
Gunn, Mary, 452 
Gunn, Robert, w., 451 
Gunn, Sarah, w., 447, 4482, 4492, 

450 '. 452, 453. 454' 
Gutman, Henry J., 466, w., 467 
Gutman, Joseph, w., 466 
Gutman, Joseph, Jr., 466 



H 



Hageman, see also Hegeman 
Hageman, Louis, 476 
Halden, Jane, w., 461, 477 
Halden, Jane E., 471 
Halden, John, w., 477 
Halden, Marion S., 472 
Halden, Samuel, w., 462, 464, 

471. 472 
Halden, William, 461, 476, w., 

462, 470, 472 
Hamilton, John, w., 472 
Hamilton, Mrs., w., 458 
Hanan, Rosena, 461 
Hanaway, George, w., 462, 475 



Ilnbei to fll^arrlages 



525 



Hanaway, Maria, 474 
Hanaway, Mary A., w., 462 
Hanaway, James, 464 
Hanaway, Samuel, w., 475 ' 
Hanaway, Sarah, 474 
Haneberg, Christian, 448 
Hardenbergh, Mary, 470 
Hardenbrook, Abel, w., 451 
Hardenbrook, Theophilus, 451 
Harding, John, w., 477 
Hardman, Catharine, 449 
Hardman, Jonathan, w., 446 
Hardman, Laetitia, 454 
Hardman, Mary, 451 
Harsen, Cornelius, w., 447 
Harsen, Jacob, w., 446, 447*, 

4482, 449. 451. 453 
Harsen, Joanna R., 455 
Harsen, John, 447 
Hart, Arden, 456 
Hartner, Rosena M., 476 
Havemeyer, Susan, w., 458 
Havens, Benjamin, w., 448 
Hawkins, Hannah, 465 
Hayivood, Henry W., w., 466 
Hey wood, Frances, 466 
Heywood, Martha, w., 466 
Heady, Hannah, 447 
Hegeman, see also Hageman 
Hegeman, John, 449, 460 
Hegeman, Jane F., 447 
Hegeman, Letitia, 447 
Hegeman, Martha, 449 
Herbert, Fred'k, w., 468 
Herinton, John, 447 
Hermance, Andrew, 447 
Higgins, Calvin, w., 452 
Higgins, William F., 453 
Hinman, Elisha Wm., 459 
Hodge, George, 451 
Hodgins, Widow, w., 452 
Hoffman, Emma, 472 
Holberton, George, 449, le;., 451 
Holden, William, 453 
Hole, Henry, w., 469 
Holmes, Ann A., 458 
Holmes, Augusta M., 457 
Holmes, Charles D., 463 
Holmes, Eldridge, 468 
Holmes, Elizabeth, 451 
Holmes, Francis, 459 
Holmes, George W., 458 3, w., 

462 
Holmes, Hamilton B., w., 468 
Holmes, Hannah, w., 460, 461 



Holmes, Hannah S., 462 
Holmes, Kate, 464 
Holmes, Martha H., 452 
Holmes, Nathaniel, 462, w., 451 

462 
Holmes, Nathaniel Wm., w., 

458^ 
Holmes, Richard, 461 
Holmes, Wm., 457, w., 451, 456, 

457. 462 2, 463, 464 
Holmes, Wm. B., 446, w., 457, 

458, 460 
Holmes, Wm., Jr., 474 
Holmes, William, Sr., ?w., 475 
Hopper, Andrew, 449 
Horn, John, w., 447 

Horn, Peter A., 458 
Horn, Sarah M., w., 475, 477 
Horsford, Lorenna, 448 
Hosack, Dr., w., 449 
Hoswel, Henry, 451 
Houghtailing, Herman, w., 457 
Howard, Kindread, 462 
Howe, William, 447 
Howland, Loyd, w., 452 
Howland, Nancy, 452 
Hunt, Wilson G., 462 
Hunter, Sarah A. F., 457 
Huyler, Dr., w., 449 



Jackson, Aaron B., w., 460 
Jackson, Susan, 451 
Jarvis, Jonathan, 450 
Jasper, John, 458, w., 461, 466 
Johnson, Samuel, 457 
Johnston, Margaret, w., 459 
Johnston, Mary, 459 
Jones, Richard, w., 452 

K 

Kearny, Archibald K., w., 468 
Kearny, Elizabeth J., 468 
Keese, Timothy, 465 
Kelly, George, w., 464 
Kelly, Henry, 463, w., 475 
Kelly, John, 458 
Kelly, Joseph, w., 466 
Kelly, Margaret, 464 
Kelly, William, 464, w., 475 
Kene, Bartholomew, 462 
Kenyon, William B., 449 
Kerr, Jane, 455 



526 ^be Bew l?ork of yesterba^ 



Kervan, Thomas, 464 
King, Edward, 450 
Kip, M. R., w., 457 2 
Knapp, Philander, 454 
Kniffen, Deborah, 456 
Knight, Letitia M., 472 
Koertge, Albert F., w., 477 
Koertge, Emilie H., 476 
Koertge, Theodore, w., 477 



Labagh, Ab'm, w., 463 
Lacon, Wm. H., 466 
Lash, Eliza, 451 
Lawer, — , w., 458 
Lawrence, Catharine, 450 
Lawrence, Julia, 462 
Lawrence, Mrs. Patience, w., 

462 
Lawson, H. Dio, w., 477 
Leggett, Henrietta, w., 459, 461 
Leggett, John W., w., 460 
Leggett, Sarah, 451 
Leggett, Tamar, w., 459 
Leggett, Tamar V., 460 
Leggett, William, w., 463 
Le Roy, B., iv., 449 
Lent, Abraham, w., 456 
Lent, Mrs. w., 450 
Lent, Sarah A., 456 
Lent, Widow, w., 454 
Lewis, Lydia, 446 
Littell, John, 465 
Little, Ellen C, 471 
Little, James, 471 
Little, Lydia, 452 
Long, Rev. Chester, 452 
Lozier, Emma C, 466 
Lozier, Eliza, w., 463 
Lozier, John, w., 463 
Lozier, John H., w., 463, 466 2 
Lozier, Louisa R., 467 
Lozier, Sarah, 463 
Low, John, w., 453 
Lyon, William, w., 451 

M 

Magee, Martha, 462 
Major, Mary, 448 
Major, Mr., w., 448 
Mallary, William, w., 469 
Maltbie, Sally A., 452 
Marshall, John, w., 463 



Marshall, Mary L., 463 
Marshman, Newman, w., 470 
Martin, Josiah, 464 
Martin, Mary, w., 459 
Martin, Mary L, 460 
Martin, Rebecca, 448 
Martling, Maria, 456 
Mason, David H., 464 
McCuUough, Elmira, 463 
McDonald, Samuel, 456 
McDonald, Teressa, 467 
McDougall, William, w., 471 
McDowell, Andrew, w., 459 
McDowell, John T., w., 459 
McElrea, Thomas, 455 
McElvany, T., w., 477 
McFarland, Sarah, 474 
McGinness, Margaret J., 470 
Mclntyre, Geo. A., 470, w., 472 
McKinzie, Allen, 456 
McKoy, Cornelius, w., 453 
McRee, Robert, 461 
McVay, Ellen, 450 
Mearon, John, 450 
Mecklin, Eliza, 452 
Mecom, James, w., 455 
Meier, Emily M., 455 
Meier, Henrietta M., 455 
Meriott, Mrs. Sarah, 458 
Merritt, Jerome W., 466 
Merritt, Lavinia, 448 
Merry, Frances, 464 
Middlemus, Andrew, w., 450 
Miers, Samuel, 448 
Mildeberger, Margaret, 446 
Miles, Ann E., 459 
Miller, Ezra, w., 454 
Miller, George S., 466 
Miller, Jacob, M.D., w., 461 
Miller, Margaret, w., 452 
Mitchell, Henry S., w., 471, 477 
Mitchell, Martha, E., 471 
Mitchell, Thomas, w., 471 
Mitchell, Wm., w., 471 
Mitchell, Widow Ehza, w., 456 
Moody, John, w., 460 
Moody, Mary A., w., 460 
Moore, Ellen M., 459 
Moore, Henry, 454 
Moore, Letitia J., w., 459 
Moore, Rachel, 448 
Moore, Rosena, 460 
Moore, Samuel T., 456 
Moore, Sarah A., 474 
Moore, Wm. H., w., 459, 460 



Unbci to noarriages 



527 



Morgan, Ann, 463 
Morgan, Eliza Ann, 457 
Morgan, Mary J., 458 
Morgan, Solomon, w., 462 
Morris, Hester, 449 
Mott, Elsey, 449 
Mott, Jordan, w., 449 
Moulton, J. T., w., 472 
Moulton, Letitia M., 472 
Moger, Nathaniel M., 474 
Moynat, Henry, 448 

N 

Nash, Catharine P., 476 
Naugle, Lavinia, 453 
Naugle, Jacob, w., 453 
Neaper, Jane, 460 
Neumann, Charles E. P., 476 
Newbury, John R., 461 
Nichols, Ann, w., 448, 453 = 
Nish, Isabella, 462 
Nish, Jane, w., 470 
Nish, Mary, 464 
Noxon, Marilla A., 452 



O 



Oakley, John, w., 447 
Oakley, Sarah, 447 
Oakley, Wilmot, 448 
Odell, James M., 461 
Odell, Sarah A., 461 
Odell, — , w., 460 
Oliver, James W., w., 469 
Olmstead, Francis, w., 453 
Oknstead, Harriet, 448, 453 
Olmstead, Jemmy, w., 446, 448 
Olmstead, Louis J., 463 
Osgood, Juliana, 449 
Osgood, Martha B., 449 
Osgood, Samuel W., 449 
Ostrander, Ralph L., 474 



Palmer, John W., 447 
Park, Ella, 472 
Park, Isabella, w., 472 
Park, Isabella H., 474 
Parks, Deborah A., 465 
Parks, John, w., 465 
Parker, Francis, 457 
Parkes, — , w., 458 
Paulson, William, 460 



Perit, Pelatiah, w., 459 
Perkins, Mary, 447 
Perry, Royal C, M.D., 458 
Peterson, Rachel, 447 
Peterson, William, w., 447 
Pettit, Salyer, 448 
Pitman, Lida C, 466 
Plass, Angeline, 465 
Plass, John, w., 465 
Poerect, Augustus, 451 
Post, Elizabeth, 459 
Post, Henry, w., 449, 450, 456 
Post, Peter, 463 
Prall, Abraham A., 455 
Prall, Hannah M., 455 
Prime, Mary, w., 461 
Prime, Peter, w., 461 
Purchase, Richard, 454 
Purdy, Ann E., 463 
Purdy, WiUiam G., 468 



Q 



Quackenbush, Andrew, w., 453 
Quackenbush, Ann, 453 
Quackenbush, Maria, 449 
Quackenbush, Dr. David, w., 

449. 453 
Quackenbush, James, w., 459 
Quackenbush, Margaret, w., 459 
Quin, Ann M., 461 



R 



Randolph, Deborah, 460 
Ray, David, 449 
Read, Emily, w., 465 
Read, Mary A., 465 
Read, William, w., 465 
.Reaves, Rose H., 461 
Reed, Arunet, 450 
Regur, Leonard H., 459 
Reid, Emily, w., 464 
Reid, Mary, w., 464 
Reid, David S., w., 471 
Richards, Hannah V., 474 
Ridabock, Frederick A., 460 
Riker, Mrs. Hannah, w., 459 
Riker, Rebecca, w., 462 
Ritches, Elizabeth, 451 
Ritchie, Jane, w., 455 
Ritter, Cambridge, 456, k'., 4^72 
Ritter, Isabella, 457, vu., 457 
Ritter, Phyllis, 455 
Robertson, Anne, 474 



528 



Zhc IRew IPork of 13e0tcr^ap 



Robertson, Elizabeth F., 468 
Robertson, George, w., 468, 475 
Robison, Anna M., 470 
Rogers, Levi, 448 
Rogers, Mr., w., 448 
Roome, — , w., 461 
Roome, Charles, 461 
Roome, Mrs. Catharine, w., 461 
Rooney, Isabella T., 466 
Rose, George, w., 475 
Rose, Isaac, w., 475 
Ross, David M., w., 447 
Ross, John E., 447, w., 460 » 
Ross, Mrs. w., 450 
Ross, Sarah F., 460 
Russell, Alexander, 457 
Russell, Benjamin, w., 457 
Russell, Nathaniel, 458 
Ryder, R., w., 449 



Sage, Mr., w., 448 
Samler, Elizabeth, 450 
Savage, George, w., 459 
Savage, Samuel A., 448 
Saxton, Ann, 453, 454 
Schmidt, Elizabeth, 474, w., 

470. 475 
Schmidt, Frederick, w., 471, 

475^ 
Schmidt, Jacob F., 474 
Schofield, Eliza, 456 
Seaman, Henry, w., 450 
Seaman, Hester, w., 450 
Seaman, Sarah, 450 
Seymour, John, w., 456 
Shaw, Rev. Mr., W., 452 
Shepherd, Mary, 448 
Shepherd, Thomas, 463 
Shotwell, Caroline, w., 465 
Shotwell, Clayton M., w., 465 
Shotwell, Marion B., 465 
Shurthff, Maria, 454 
Shurtliff, Mary, w., 450 
Sidell, John A., 452 
Simpson, — , w., 461 
Sinton, Mary A., 463 
Skinner, Alexander R., 463 
Slaves of I. Prall, w., 449 
Smith, Alexander, 460, w., 455, 

457 
Smith, Ann, M., 454 
Smith, Albert, M.D., 455 
Smith, Daniel, w., 460 
Smith, John, 468 



Smith, Julia, 462 
Smith, Margaret E., 464 
Smith, Mary, 451, 458, 463 
Smith, Maria, w., 457 
Smith, Peter, 457, 461 
Smith, Samuel, 456 
Smith, Sarah, 474 
Smith, Thomas, w., 452 
Smock, Emeline, w., 477 
Smock, James, w., 476 
Smock, John, 477 
Somerindyke, Caroline, 463 
Somerindyke, James C, 451 
Southerland, Alexander, 471 
Sowery, Elizabeth, w., 447 
Sowery, Francis, 447, w., 451 
Sowery, Widow, w., 454 
Spear, Nathaniel T., 469 
Spencer, James, w., 470 
Spooner, Alden, w., 457 
Stacell, Charles, 476 
Stanley, Thomas, 468, w., 475 
Stanton, — , w., 463 
Stanton, Hannah, 446 
Steele, Emily, 460 
Steele, Henry, w., 463 
Stephens, Benjamin, Jr., 455 
Stephens, Margaret, w., 447 
Stevens, John, w., 448 
Stevens, Thomas, w., 456 
Stewart, William R., 450 
Stickles, Maria, 462 
Still, Rob., w., 456 
St. John, Julia, 450 
Stoops, Joseph, w., 456 
Stratton, Mrs. w., 449 
Strickland, John, 447, w., 4482 
Strong, Thomas, w., 452 
Striker, Caesar, w., 454 
Striker, Garret H., w., 446, 

447 2, 449 
Striker, Helen, 452 
Striker, James, w., 448' 
Striker, Maria, 449 
Striker, Richard, w., 452 
Striker, Ambrose K., w., 472 
Striker, James A., 472 
Stuart, Cornelia, w., 456 
Stuart, William, w., 456 
Summersgill, — , w., 463 
Summersgill, Agnes, 463 



Tates (Yates?) Mary, 451 
Taylor, John E., 463 



1lnt)ex to flDarriages 



529 



Terhune, Ann M., 465 
Terhune, Henry, w., 454 
Terhune, John, 454 
TerwilHger, Jacob R., 476 
Thompson, — , w., 458 
Thompson, Adam, 461 
Thompson, Catharine, 458, w., 

462 
Thompson, Rev. Frederick B., 

w., 458 
Thompson, Frank S., 476 
Thompson, Martha, w., 462 
Thompson, Robert, 455 
Thompson, Robert D., 460 
Tompkins, WilHam G., 462 
Tompkins, William W., w., 462 
Torrey, William, Jr., 452 
Travis, Susan, 456 
Trimble, Mamie L., 476 
Truax, Clarissa, 457 
Tuckere, Isaac, 446 
Tuttle, Isaiah W., 454 
Tuttle, Rebecca, 448 

U 

Underbill, Alfred H., 457 

V 

Valliere, Joseph, 452 
van Aken, Albert, w., 477 
van Aken, Alexander, w., 477 
van Aken, Barent G., w., 464, 

4652 
van Aken, David, w., 464, 465 
van Aken, Eliza W., w., 4582, 

4593, 461, 4632, 4642, 4652, 

466, 468, 475, 4774 
van Aken, Enoch I., 476 
van Aken, Enoch, Jr., 465 
van Aken, Rev. Enoch, 458, 472 
van Aken, Eliza, 476 
van Aken, Elizabeth C, 465, 476 
van Aken, Gulick, 468, w., 463, 

464, 465 ^ 467, 470 
van Aken, John, w., 465, 470 
van Aken, William, w., 477 
van Buskirk, Andrew, 451 
van Net, Lewis, 447 
van Orden, Samuel, 449 
van Riper, Richard, 448 
van Schyler, Abraham, w., 451 
van Zant, Janeway, 455 
Varian, Isaac L., 447, w., 451, 

452, 456 
Varian, Richard, 456 



Varian, William, 452, w., 453 
Vass, Frederick, 474 
Vermeule, C. C, w., 462 
Vermeule, Rev. Mr., w., 4502 
Vernon, Philip, w., 475 
von Post, Laurenz H., 455 
Vreeland, James N., 476 
Vreeland, Robert, w., 464 
Vreeland, Robert T., 462 

W 

Waite, John, w., 462 
Waite, Margaret, w., 447 
Waite, William, 446 
Waldman, Frederick, 469 
Waldron, Benjamin, 452 
Waldron, David, w., 453 
Waldron, Maria, 453 
Waldron, John V., w., 450 
Waldron, Tunis A., 450 
Walker, Eliza J., 470 
Wallace, James B., 467 
Ward, Silvanus, w., 446 
Warner, Matthias, 450 
Warren, Eliza C, w., 463 
Warrel, Margaret, 453 
Watkins, John S., 452 
Watson, Elizabeth, w., 448 
Watson, George, w., 460 
Watson, Isabella, w., 460 
Watson, Westly, w., 450 
Watts, — , w., 468 
Watts, Eli, w., 469 
Watts, Rolaert, 469 
Weatherby, Peter, 453 
Weaver, Catharine S. 450 
Webber, Robert, 456 
Webbers, Elizabeth, 447 
Webbers, Letitia, 448 
Webbers, Margaret, 446 
Webbers, Philip, w., 454 
Webbers, Susan, w., 448 
Weiser, Samuel, w., 450 
Wells, Emott, w., 477 
Wells, James, 449 
Wells, Leonard B., 455 
Wells, Thomas H., 457 
Westerfield, Cornelius, 453 
Westervelt, Lavinia, w., 455 
Westervelt, Maria, 454 
Westervelt, Samuel, w., 453 
Westervelt, Sarah, 455 
Westervelt, Susan, w., 454 
Weyer, Joseph, 464 
Wheeler, Eliza, 451 



53 o ^be mew 13ork of l^eaterba^ 



White, Eliza, 456 
White, Mary L., 463 
White, Teressa McD., 467 
Whittemore, Adeline, 452 
Whittemore, Timothy, w., 452 
Whoople, William H., 456 
Wiley, Rebecca O., 446 
Wildy, James, 453, w., 453 
Wilkinson, Mary, 447 
Williams, Jane, 454 
Williams, John, w., 456 
Williams, Mrs. John, w., 456 
Wilmott, — , w., 459 
Wilmott, Charles, 460, w., 463 
Wilson, George, w., 456 
Wilson, Jotham, w., 468 
Wilson, Maria, 468 
Winch, Charles, A., 472 
Wood, Alice, 474 



Wood, Charles, w., 472 
Wood, Lewis, w., 468, 475 
Woodruff, Amanda, w., 460 
Woodruff, Caroline, w., 464 
Woodruff, Francis, 459 
Woodruff, Oliver, w., 4642 
Woodruff, Sarah, w., 4642 
Woodward, Hannah, 453 
Wormly, Samuel, 454 
Wright, Barak C, 459 
Wright, Margaret, 468 

Y 

Yates, James D., w., 465 
Yates, Mary (Tates?), 451 
Yates, Samuel W., 464 
Yeatman, John, 453 
Young, Mary, w., 446 
Young, William, 448 



1In&ei to Baptisms 

The names of children are followed bye. The maiden names 
of mothers are given. 



Ackerman, Rachel, 493 2, 495, 

501 
Adamson, Jane, 482 
Adamson, Elizabeth, 490 
Albertson, Wm., c, 490 
AlBurtis, Rev. J., 497 
Alexander, Abel, 502 
Alexander, Louisa, c, 502 
Anderson, Andrew, 510 
Anderson, Jane A., c, 510 
Anderson, Sarah M., c, 510 
Antill, Frances, 494 
Arkenburgh, Eliza J., c, 509 
Arkenburgh, James W., c, 509 
Arkenburgh, Oliver M., c, 509 
Arkenburgh, Robert H., c, 509 
Arkenburgh, Robert H., 509 
Arkenburgh, William H., c, 509 
Armant, Samuel, 498 
Armant, Elizabeth A. P., c, 498 
Armsheimer, Louis, 519 
Armsheimer, Louis C, c, 519 
Asten, Mr. John, 490 
Auld, Elizabeth, c, 516 
Auld, John, 516 



B 



Bailey, Elizabeth, 502 
Baker, Harriet, 510 
Bauer, Caroline, 5182, 519 
Bauer, Louisa J., c, 516 
Bauer, Mary M., c, 515 
Bauer, Paul, 514, 515, 516 
Bauer, Paul C, c, 514 
Bawden, Anne M., c, 516 
Bawden, Isabella G., c, 519 
Bawden, James, c, 517 
Bawden, Martha L., c, 517 
Bawden, Minnie, c., 519 
Bawden, Samuel, 516, 517*, 518, 

519' 
Bawden, Sarah, c, 518 
Baxter, Frederick M., 515 
Baxter, George P., c, 515 
Beard, Rebecca, 505 
Beams, Henry, 487, 489, 491 
Beams, Henry, c, 487 
Beams, James S., c, 489 
Beams, William, c, 491 
Beck, Eliza, 490, 492, 497 
Beckley, Leonard, 504, 510 
Beckley, Leonard F., c, 504 



1ln^ex to Baptiems 



531 



Beckley, Mary, 504, 509 
Beckley, Mary I., c, 510 
Bedlow, Mary E. G., 486 
Beekman, James, c, 486 
Beekman, John, 486 
Beinhaur, Catharine, 485 
Bennett, Alexander, 511 
Bennett, Eliza, c, 511 
Bennett, Lydia, c, 511 
Bennett, William S., c, 511 
Berwick, James, 501 
Berwick, Mary, c, 501 
Berwick, Mary L., 501 
Biggart, Agnes, 506, 507 
Bissland, Marion, 505, 510, 512 
Blackwood, Dorcas, 514 
Blanch, Euphemia, 495 
Blanck, Alonzo, 514 
Blanck, Theressa, 511*, 514, 516 
Blanck, Lily, c, 511 
Blanck, Rob't H., 511 
Blanck, Robert H., c, 511 
Blanck, Sersely, c, 511 
Blatner, Caroline, 515 
Blay, Sophia, 519 
Blick, Caroline R., 517 2 
Blunt, Amelia A., 512, 514 
Bogert, Jane, 510 
Bower(Bowen?),Charles,si6,5i9 
Bower, Charles H., c, 516 
Bower, Mary E., c, 516 
Bower, Henrietta E., c, 519 
Bowley, Eliza J. C, c, 503 
Bowley, James, 502 2, 503, 504 
Bowley, James F., c, 502 
Bowley, John H., c, 502 
Bowley, Minard L., c, 504 
Bradley, James F., 500 
Bremer, Daniel, 5172, 518 
Bremer, Daniel, c, 517 
Bremer, Martha M., c, 518 
Bremer, William H., c, 517 
Brigham, Ellen, 502 2, 503, 504 
Brigs, Ann M., 501 
Broadwell, Sophia, 510, 512, 518 
Brock, Maria R., 512 
Brooks, Eldridge, 503 
Brooks, James, c, 503 
Brooks, William H., c, 503 
Brown, Barbary R., c, 513 
Brown, David R., c, 513 
Brown, Hamilton, 489, 491 
Brown, Jane, c, 489 
Brown, Jane, c, 491 
Brown, John R., 513 



Brown, Margaret, 489 
Brown, Mary E., c, 513 
Brunish, Eliza, 511 
Bryen, Elizabeth, 513 
Buel, Eliza, 500 
Burbrige, Mary Ann, 499 
Burnham, Ann, 497 
Burnham, Charles, c, 492 
Burnham, Cordelia M., c, 497 
Burnham, Harriet N., c, 497 
Burnham, James C, c, 490 
Burnham, Julia M., c, 497 
Burnham, Mary L., c, 490 
Burnham, William, 490, 492, 

497^ 
Bush, Almira, c, 502 
Bush, John, 502 
Bush, Julia A., 502 
Butler, Susan, c, 511 
Butler, Thomas, 511 ' 



Cameron, Grace B., c, 501 
Cameron, Robert, 501 
Carland, John, 489 
Carland, Mary Jane, c, 489 
Carrolton, Catharine, 504 
Carss, John, 510, 512 
Carss, John B., c, 510 
Carss, Mary C, c, 512 
Caryl, Isaac, 508 
Caryl, Sarah, 508 
Cassel, Adam, 519 
Cassel, Anne, c, 519 
Cassel, Catherine, 519 
Cassel, Charlotta, c, 519 
Christie, Jane, 484 
Cisco, Elizabeth, 483, 488 
Clark, Alexander, c, 502 
Clark, Ann, 504 
Clark, Catharine, c, 502 
Clark, William, 502 
Clendining, John, 484 
Clendining, William, c, 484 
Coe, Sarah Jane, 51 8 
Coffey, Mary, 482, 484 
Coit, Gurdon S., 499 
Coit, James E., c, 499 
Colvin, David, c, 492 
Colvin, Timothy, 492 
Conly, John, c, 506 
Conly, Joseph, 506 
Cook, Elizabeth, c, 490 
Cook, Margaret, c, 490 



532 



Zhc IRew l^ork of IPesterba^ 



Cook, Nathan, 490 
Cook, Susanna, c, 490 
Cook, Thomas, c, 490 
Corkey, Mary A., 502 
Cornell, Albert R., c, 495 
Cornell, James T., c, 497 
Cornell, James T., c, 491 
Cornell, Joseph, 491, 495, 497 
Cornell, Sarah Ann, 492 
Cornell, Susan, 491, 492, 493 
Corson, Cornelius, 513 
Corson, Julia C, 513 
Corson, Thomas D., c, 513 
Cortjohn, Sarah A., 505 
Cosine, see also Cozine 
Cosine, Jane A., 504 
Cosine, John, 492 
Cosine, Sarah, 498 
Cosine, Sarah S., c, 492 
Coss, Esther, 482 
Cox, Martha, 482, 483 
Cozine, see also Cosine 
Cozine, Jane A., 504 
Cozine, Sarah, 498 
Curtis, James W., c, 510 
Curtis, John K., 509, 510, 512 
Curtis, John K., c, 509 
Curtis, Samuel R. M., c, 512 



D 



Dagenhardt, Henrick, 503 
Dagenhardt, Mary E., c, 503 
Dalton, Mr., 481 
Dalton, Sarah J., c, 481 
Danes, Martha, 513 
Danes, Martha C, 515 
Darke, Charles, Sr., 500 
Darke, Charles, 502 
Darke, Charles H., c-, 501 
Darke, Elizabeth, 505 
Darke, Emma, c, 501, 502 
Darke, Helen M., c, 498 
Darke, Henry, c, 487 
Darke, John, 496, 497, 498 
Darke, John M., c, 496 
Darke, Maria, 487 
Darke, Maria, c, 487 
Darke, Maria, c, 500 
Darke, Mary T., c, 497 
Darke, Richard, 487 
Darke, Richard, c, 500 
Darke, Sarah, c, 487 
Darke, Temperance R., c., 500 
Davidson, Alexander, c, 483 



Davidson, Ann, c, 483 
Davidson, Rebecca, c., 483 
Davidson, Robert, 483 ^ 
Dean, George, 500 
Dean, Thomas A., c, 500 
Demoress, Henry, c, 481 
Demoress, Peter B., 481 
de Peyster, Cornelia, 498, 503 
Dey, Eliza, 496, 497, 498, 499 
Dey, Isaac, 483, 488 
Dey, James, c, 488 
Dey, Mary, 482 
Dey, Mary, c, 483 
Dey, Rachel, c., 488 
Dey, Sally, 500, 501, 504, 505 
Dieterick, George T., c., 495 
Dieterick, John P., 495 
Dieterick, John P., c, 495 
Dodge, Henry A., c, 487 
Dodge, Henry S., 487 2 
Dodge, John V., c, 487 
Doe, Emma P., c, 514 
Doe, William M., 514 
Dooly, James, 503 
Dorland, Cosine, c, 504 
Dorland, James H., 5042 
Dorland, Jane Cozine, 517 
Dorland, Jane C, c, 504 
Doyle, Teressa, 511 
Dusenberry, Barzillai, 485 
Dusenberry, Catharine, 485 ', 

487, 488, 490. 493 
Dusenberry, Charles K., c, 490 
Dusenberry, George W., c, 485 
Dusenberry, Isaac L., c, 491 
Dusenberry, John N., 490, 491, 

493 
Dusenberry, Sarah E., c, 493 



E 



Eaton, George, 515 
Eaton, Mary E., c, 515 
Eaves, John, 513 
Eaves, Margaret A. W., c, 513 
Eaves, Mary B., c, 513 
Eckert, Johanes N., 516 
Eckert, Johanes N., c, 516 
Edington, Eliza, 508, 509, 510, 

T. 513 

Ehmer, Catharine, 517 
Eldridge, Melinna, 511 
Emmons, Edward A., c, 498 
Emmons, Horatio, c, 495 
Emmons, Maria, c, 496 



Unber to Baptiems 



533 



Emmons, Mary, c, 499 
Emmons, Mary C, c, 494 
Emmons, Thomas J., 49.S, 494 

495, 496, 498' 499 
Emmons, William T., c, 4.9^ 

F 

Fadden, — , c, 499 
Fadden, Ann, c, 501 
Fadden, John, 499, 501, 505 
Fadden, John L., c. 505 
Farr, Mary, 519 
Felix, Ambrose, 514 
Felix, Frances J., 510 
Felix, Frances, c, 514 
Felix, Josephine, c, 510 
Festje, Andrew, c, 516 
Festje, Emma, 517 
Festje, Henrietta, 516, 510 
Festje, John J., 516' 
Festje, John J., c t;i6 
Fetgre, Eliza, 512 
Findley, George, 509 
Fisher, Elizabeth, 515 
Fistgen, Martha S., 513 
Fitch, Ann E., c, 499 
Fitch, Charles H. c, 498 
Fitch, Ecklev, 498, 499 
Fitch, WiUiam C, c, 4,98 
Fitting, Kate, 517 
Flick, — , 516 
Flick, William, c, 516 
Floyd, Alma, 493 
Ford, Margaret, 482 
Forges, Henry, 517 
Forges, Henry, c, 517 
Francey, Ann J., 506 
Franklin, Benjamin, 517 
Franklin, Bertha C, c, 517 
Frazer, Ann, 506, 507 
Frederick, Henrietta Q., 514 
Frederick, Henrietta Q., c, 503 
Frederick, Sarah L., 515 
Frederick, William, 503 
Freeman, Emma, c, 502 
Freeman, John, 502 
Freuligh, Mary M., 503 
Freund, Charles C, c, 518 
Freund, Frederick J., c, 518 
Freund, Jacob, 5182, 519 
Freund, John A., c, 519 



Gabbeman, Lizzie, 518 



Galloway, Alexander, c, 484 
Galloway, Caroline, c, 482 
Galloway, George, 481, 482, 484 
Galloway, Mary, 481 
Galloway, Sophia, c, 481 
Gamage, Caroline Maria, c, 487 
Gamage, Dr. John, 487 
Gardner, Archibald, 504 
Gardner, Catharine, c, 504 
Gardner, Rebecca, 512 
Gassner, Jane E., 507 
Gassner, John A., 507 
Gassner, John W., c, 507 
Gassner, Sarah J., 507 
Gassner, Susan C, c, 507 
Geebel, Elizabeth, 512 
George, Margaret, 487, 489, 491 
Gerhauser, Michael, 519 
Gerhauser, Philip M. L., c, 519 
Gerth, Jacob, c, 518 
Gerth, Mary, c, 512 
Gerth, Michael, 512, 518 
Gibbins, Elizabeth, 518 
Gibson, Mary F., 509, 510, 512 
Gosman, Janet Duncan, c, 487 
Gosman, Robert, 487 
Gould, Ann M., 501 
Graham, Hugh, 499 
Graham, Hugh R., c, 499 
Grazier, Charles W., c, 512 
GT-azier, Philip, 512 
Guire, George, 518 
Guire, John W., c, 518 
Guire, William F., c, 518 
Gulick, Eliza, 501 
Gulick, Jane G., 506, 507 
Gunn, Alexander, 483, 484, 485, 

486, 489 
Gunn, Alexander N., c, 484 
Gunn, George O., c, 485 
Gunn, John A., c, 489 
Gunn, Lewis C, c, 486 
Gunn, Mary A., c, 488 
Gunn, Sarah, 486 
Gunn, Sarah B., c, 483 

H 

Haden, Charlotte, 499, 501 
Hageman, see Hegeman 
Hageman, Jane F., 492, 494 
Halden, Isabella, 500 
Halden, John S., 518 
Halden, Marion S., 518 
Halden, Mary J. P., c, 518 



534 



^be IRew ^ov\{ of l^eeterba^ 



Halden, Samuel, 517 
Halden, Sarah L., 517 
Hamilton, Isabella, 492 
Hamilton, John P., c, 492 
Hanaway, Elizabeth, c, 508 
Hanaway, George, 5042, 505, 

507 
Hanaway, James, 5082, 510, 

512 
Hanaway, James, c, 504 
Hanaway, Jane, c, 510 
Hanaway, Joseph, c, 512 
Hanaway, Margaret, c, 50S 
Hanaway, Maria, 516, 517 2, 518, 

519' 
Hanaway, Maria, c, 504 
Hanaway, Samuel, 507 
Hanaway, Sarah, 5172, 51S 
Hanaway, Sarah E., 502 
Hanaway, Sarah, c, 505 
Harding, Eliza J., c, 515 
Harding, John, 515, 516, 517, 

518 
Harding, Margaret E., c, 517 
Harding, Mary, c, 518 
Harding, William H., c, 516 
Hardman, Aaron, c, 482 
Hardman, Catharine, 489 
Hardman, Elizabeth, c, 489 
Hardman, Henry, c, 485 
Hardman, Jonathan, 481, 482, 

485, 487, 489 
Hardman, Jonathan, c, 487 
Hardman, Lawrence H., c, 4S1 
Harriot, Mary, 502 
Harsen, Catharine, c, 484 
Harsen, Cornelia R., c, 488 
Harsen, Cornelius, 484 2, 486, 

488 
Harsen, Frederick, c, 485 
Harsen, Joanna H., 494, 495 
Harsen, John, 4S5 
Harsen, John P. R., c, 486 
Harsen, Magdalen R., c, 484 
Haskins, David, c, 500 
Haskins, Emma E., c, 505 
Haskins, Harriet, c, 504 
Haskins, Wm. E., 500, 504, 505 
Haskins, William E., c, 500 
Hayden, Temperance R., 500, 

502 
Hays, Evaline, c, 509 
Hays, Nicholas, 509 
Head, Harriet, 506 
Hegeman, see Hageman 



Hegeman, Cynthia, 482, 484, 

485, 487, 489 
Hegeman, Jane F., 484, 486, 

488, 489 
Hegeman, John, 488 
Hegeman, John A., c, 488 
Hegeman, Letitia, 486, 487 
Hegeman, Margaret, 482, 486, 

488 
Hegeman, Margaretta, 484, 485 
Hegeman, Martha, 488 
Henderson, Mr. (Minister), 481 *, 

482 
Hendrickson, Glorianna, 483 
Hermance, Andrew, 484, 485 
Hermance, Garret P., c, 484 
Hermance, Sarah A., c, 485 
Herril, Maria, 503 
Hinckley, John, c, 484 
Hinckley, Susan, 484 
Hoffman, Adolphus, c, 508 
Hoffman, Amelia, 5162 
Hoffman, Lawrence, 482, 483 
Hoff'man, Louisa, c, 508 
Hoffman, Mary A., c, 483 
Hoffman, Martha C., 482, 483 
Hoffman, Robert, 508 
Hoffman, Sophia, 516 
Holberton, Catharine M., c, 489 
Holberton, George, 4S9 
Holmes, Ann A., c, 489 
Holmes, Augusta M., 503 
Holmes, Augusta M., c, 486 
Holmes, Charles D., c, 492 
Holmes, Elizabeth, 506 
Holmes, Frank D., c, 518 
Holmes, George W., c, 486 
Holmes, Hannah, c, 492 
Holmes, Hannah S., 508 
Holmes, Kate M., 5092 
Holmes, Mary E., c, 490 
Holmes, Nathaniel, 505 
Holmes, Nathaniel, c, 494 
Holmes, Nathaniel AYni., c, 486 
Holmes, Rebecca, c, 505 
Holmes, Sarah M., c, 505 
Holmes, William, 502 
Holmes, Wm. B., 4S6, 489, 492, 

494 
Holmes, William, Jr., 518 
Hopkins, Hannah, 4S52, 487 
Hopkins, — , 488 
Hopper, Mary, 485 
Horn, Charles, c, 513 
Horn, Jemima, c, 485 



Ilnbcx to Baptisme 



535 



Horn, John, c, 482 

Horn, Letire F., c, 486 

Horn, Margaret, 483 

Horn, Mary, 483 

Horn, Matthew, 482, 484, 485, 

486, 488 
Horn, Matthew, c, 488 
Horn, Peter, 513 
Horn, Peter A., 498 
Horn, Peter A. H., c, 484 
Horn, Regena, c, 513 
Horn, Sarah J., c, 498 
Hornlserger, Margaret, 513 
Houston, Elizabeth, 510 
Howard, Charles H., c, 508 
Howard, Elizabeth T., c, 508 
Howard, Ellen A., c, 508 
Howard, Kindred, 508 
Hughes, Henry, 483, 484 
Hughes, Letitia, c, 483 
Hughes, Mary, c, 484 
Humphrey, Ann, 511, 513 
Hutchison, Catharine, 491,492 



Ilsley, Emma J., c, 510 
Ilsley, Harriet E., c, 503 
Ilsley, Mary A., c, 509 
Ilsley, Wm., 503, 509 
Ilsley, William C, c, 504 



Jackson, Aaron B., 482, 484, 485, 

487, 489 
Jackson, Cynthia, c, 487 
Jackson, David S., 502 
Jackson, First Day T., c, 495 
Jackson, Henry, c, 502 
Jackson, John K., 495 
Jackson, Letitia, c, 484 
Jackson, Mary A., c, 482 
Jackson, Margaret H., c, 489 
Jackson, Peter A. H., c, 485 
Jasper, Emma A.,c., 514 
Jasper, George W., 515 
Jasper, Harriet A., c, 505 
Jasper, John, 504, 505, 506, 

5082, 514 
Jasper, Joseph R., c, 508 
Jasper, Robert T., c, 504 
Jasper, Theodore A., c, 508 
Jasper, William H., c, 506 
Jasper, William H., c, 515 



Jennings, Caroline B., 505 
Jones, Ann, 48 1 
Jones, Emeline, 505 
Jones, Isabella, 507 

K 

Kelly, Barbary, 482, 483, 488, 

490, 491, 493 
Kelly, Margaret, 5082, 510, 512 
Kelly, Jane, c, 509 
Kelly, William, 509 
Kent, Sarah, 492 
Kinkade, Robert, 493 
Kinkade, Martha, c, 493 
Kip, Ann, 496 
Kniffen, Susanah, 493, 494 
Knox, John, D.D., 501 
Kreider, Frederick, 515 
Kreider, Edwin, c, 515 
Kroninberger, Wm., 512 
Kroninberger, Christian, c, 512 
Kunze, Elizabeth C, 486, 488 
Kyle, Ellen, 507 



Labagh, Rev. Wm., 498 
Lane, Robert, 495 
Lane, Robert A., c, 495 
Law, Mary, 499, 500 
Lawrence, Charles D., c, 489 
Lawrence, Catharine, 489, 491 
Lawrence, Eugene, c, 493 
Lawrence, Henry, c, 483 
Lawrence, Horace, c, 486 
Lawrence, Julia, 501 
Lawrence, Julia, c, 483 
Lawrence, Maria Varick, c, 490 
Lawrence, Samuel A., 4832, 485, 

486, 489, 490, 493 
Leggett, Barbary A., c, 490 
Leggett, Henrietta, c, 491 
Leggett, Isaac, 482, 483, 488, 

490, 491, 493 
Leggett, James, 514 
Leggett, Jane, c, 488 
Leggett, John William, c, 482 
Leggett, Kelly, c, 483 
Leggett, Mary A., c, 488 
Leggett, Sarah, 490, 491, 493 
Leggett, Tamar, 481, 482, 485 
Leggett, Tamar V., c, 493 
Leggett, Warner, c, 514 
Leggett, William V., c, 48S 



536 



Zbc 1Rew ^ovlf{ of l^eeterba^ 



Lewis, Adelaide, 518 
Lewis, Matilda, 509 
Liscom, Samuel, c, 492 
Livingston, Edward M., c, 498 
Livingston, Emily M., c, 503 
Livingston, Gerard Wm., 498, 

503 
Livingston, Dr. J. H. (Minister), 

4815 
Loper, Henderson R., c, 517 
Loper, Julius or Jonathan P., 

517' 
Loper, Margaret R., c, 517 
Love, Margaret, 514 
Love, William, 501 
Love, William, c, 501 
Luginbehl, Catharine, 507 
Luginbehl, Francis S., c, 507 



M 



Mack, Caroline, c, 486 
Mack, Daniel, 486 
Magrath, George, 502 
Magrath, Sarah E., c, 502 
Mahlow, Emilie, 519 
Martin, George, 494 
Martin, Jonathan C, c, 494 
Martin, Mary L, c, 494 
Matthews, Jas., D.D., 506 
McAlister, Elizabeth, 505 
McCartney, Charles B., c, 502 
McCartney, George, 502 
McCartney, Nicholas T., c, 502 
McCloy, Esther, c, 510 
McCloy, William, 510 
McConaughey, Sarah Jane, 515, 

516, 517, 518 
McCoy, Mary Ann, 514 
Macfarlan, Duncan, 506, 507 
Macfarlan, Duncan, c, 506 
Macfarlan, John, c, 507 
Macfarlan, Martha, c, 506 
McGuinnis, — , 499, 500 
McGuinnis, James, c, 499 
McGuinnis, Kezia H., c, 500 
McGuinnis, Margaret, c, 499 
McGuinnis, William, c, 499 
McGuinness, Margaret jane, 515 
Mcintosh, Martha, c, 519 
Mcintosh, William, 519 
McKenzie, Catharine, 515, 516, 

519 
McKenzie, Charles A. V., c, 519 
McKenzie, Clara A., c, 515 



McKenzie, Margaret, c, 516 
McKenzie, Robert, 515, 516, 519 
McLeod, Christian, c, 486 
McLeod, Hugh, 486 
McLeod, Hugh, c, 486 
McLeod, Mrs., 486 
McNight, Mary E., c, 492 
Meeker, Rev., Mr., 503 
Meier, Caspar, 486, 488 
Meier, Eliza C, c, 486 
Meier, Henrietta M., 495 
Meier, Mary K., c, 488 
Michaels, George, 517 
Michaels, George, c, 517 
Middlemus, Andrew, 489 
Middlemus, Catharine, c, 489 
Middlemus, Elspeth, c, 489 
Middlemus, Robert, c, 489 
Mildeberger, Christopher, 483 
Mildeberger, John H., c, 483 
Miller, George S., 512 
Miller, Maria R., c, 512 
Miller, Rev. John E., 496 
Miller, Sarah S. K., c, 496 
Mitchell, Albert E., c, 512 
Mitchell, Francis A., c, 511 
Mitchell, Frederick W., c, 511 
Mitchell, Henry S., 511 
Mitchell, Henry S., c, 510 
Mitchell, Thomas S., 510, 511, 

5122 
Mitchell, Wm. H., 511 
Mitchell, Willie T., c, 512 
Moncrief, Ellen, 486 
Moore, Emma P., 510, 511, 512 2 
Moore, Emma, c, 514 
Moore, Georgiana M., c, 503 
Moore, Jane F., c, 501 
Moore, John O., 514 
Moore, Margery, 496, 497 
Moore, Martha, 5042, 505, 507 
Moore, Mary, 506 
Moore, Sarah L, R., c, 503 
Moore, William H., 500, 501, 503 
Moore, William H., c, 500 
Morgan, Jane L., c, 515 
Morgan, Joseph J., 515 
Morrison, Mr., 489 
Morrison, Thomas, c, 489 
Morrow, Andrew, 482 
Morrow, Isaac, c, 482 
Morrow, Sarah, 490, 491 
Mott, Jordan, 488 
Mott, Matavus H., c, 488 
Muir, Phebe, 487 



Unbex to Baptieme 



537 



Mullock, Christiana, 516 
Murfitt, Elizabeth, c, 512 
Murfitt, Elizabeth, 518 
Murfitt, Hannah, c, 512 
Murfitt, Henry, c, 518 
Murfitt, Jane, c, 512 
Murfitt, John, c, 512 
Murfitt, Richard, c, 510 
Murfitt, William, 510, 512, 51! 
Murphy, Catharine ]., c, 504 
Murphy, John, 504 

N 

Naugel, Jacob, 489, 495 
Naugel, Angeline, c, 489 
Naugle, John ]., c, 495 
Newhouse, Benjamin, 481 
Newhouse, Eleanor, c, 481 
Nichols, Margaret, 483 
Nichols, Sarah, 483, 484, 48 

488, 489 
Nish, Isabella, c, 500 
Nish, James, 500 
Nish, Jane, c, 500 
Nish, Marion, c, 500 
Nish, Mary, c, 500 
Nish, Rachel, c, 500 
Noble, Maria, 498 

O 

Oakley, John, 483 
Oakley, Patience, c, 483 
Oliver, Elizabeth, c, 490 
Osgood, Samuel, c, 486 
Osgood, Walter F., 486 
Overmayer, Charlotta, 518 
Overmayer, Louis, 518 
Overmayer, Louis, c, 519 
Overmayer, Louisa, c, 518 
Overmayer, Sophia, c, 518 



Packhard, James, 506 
Packhard, David, c, 506 
Paisley, Isabella, 514 
Palmer, Henry, 481 
Palmer, John W., 486, 487 
Palmer, John Edmund, c, 4 
Palmer, John Wood, c, 487 
Palmer, William, c, 481 
Parks, Deborah, 509 
Patterson, Margaret, 484 



Patterson, Mary, 499 
Pefifers, Edmond A., 505 
Peffers, Margaretta A., 499 
Peffers, Josephine E. F., c, 505 
Peffers, Sylvester J. H., c, 506 
Peterson, Cornelius, 481 
Peterson, Cornelius E., c, 481 
Peterson, John H., c, 501 
Peterson, Olof, 501 
Peterson, Peter N., c, 501 
Peterson, Rachel, 484, 485 
Pfenning, Anna ]., c, 517 
pfenning, Frederick, 517 
Pfening, Charlotte P. R., 519 
Pimley, George W., 511, 513 
Pimley, George W., c, 511 
Pimley, George A., c, 513 
Place, Edwin R., c, 515 
Place, Fanny E., c, 513 
Place, Morris W., 513, 515 
Place, Samuel S., c, 513 
Post, Henry, 492 
Post, Joel, 493 
Post, John A., c, 493 
Potts, Geo., D.D., 503 
Prall, Abraham A., 494, 495 
Prall, Hannah M., c, 495 
Prall, Hannah M., 494 
Prall, Magdalen R., c, 494 
Puhle, Gustav, 516 
Puhle, Henry M. G., c, 516 
Furdy, Ann E., 506, 507, 508, 

509, 510, 511 
Purdy, Harriet, 510 
Purdy, Harriet, c, 512 
Purdy, William G., 512 

Q 

Quackenbush, Maria, 487, 491, 

492, 493, 494, 495, 496 
Quick, Catharine, 503 

R 

Raeder, Mary M., 514, 515, 516 

Randall, — , c, 491 

Randall, Cornelia, 491 

Randall, James, 491 

Rapp, Sarah L., 517 

Ray, Mary, 481 

Ray, Samuel, c, 482 

Ray, William, 481, 482 

Ray, William, c, 481 

Raid, Ann, 502 



538 



Z\)e Ificxo l?orl^ of IPeaterbaip 



Remsen, Catharine, 4832, 486, 

489, 490, 491 
Reynolds, John P., 514 
Reynolds, John F., c, 514 
Rider, Alexander R., 507 
Rider, Mary I., c, 507 
Right, Ann, 501 
Ritter, — , c, 497 
Ritter, Ann M., c, 501 
Ritter, Benjamin, c, 496 
Ritter, Cambridge, 496, 497, 498, 

499 
Ritter, Cambridge, c, 497 
Ritter, Charles, 496, 500, 501, 

504, 505 
Ritter, Charles, c, 500 
Ritter, Cornelia, c, 499 
Ritter, Dina, 483, 486, 488 
Ritter, Dina, c, 488 
Ritter, Ellen M., c, 505 
Ritter, Hannibal, 483, 486, 488 
Ritter, Harry, c, 486 
Ritter, Jacob H., c, 504 
Ritter, Jane, 500 
Ritter, Joanna H., 4842, 486, 

488 
Ritter, John, c, 499 
Ritter, Lewis, c, 483 
Ritter, Lewis, 499 
Ritter, Lucretia, 499 
Ritter, Martha E., c, 498 
Ritter, Sarah L., c, 504 
Rikeman, Maria, 481 
Robertson, George, 506, 507 
Robertson, George A., c, 506 
Robertson, George R., c, 507 
Robinson, Hannah, 489 
Robinson, James, 504 
Robinson, Sarah J. E., c, 504 
Rodabaugh, Elizabeth, 483 
Roff, Martha, 507 
Romeyne, Rev. W., 482 
Ross, Emeline, c, 492 
Ross, John E., c, 486 
Ross, John E., 484, 486, 48S, 

489, 492, 494 
Ross, Letitia J., 500, 501, 503 
Ross, Letitia J., c, 484 
Ross, Peter A., c, 488 
Ross, Peter A. H., c, 494 
Ross, Sarah F., c, 492 
Ross, William S., c, 489 
Rowan, Rev. Mr., 483 
Runnells, Hester J., c, 506 
Runnells, John G., c, 506 



Runnells, John H., 506 
Russ, Clement, 505 
Russ, Clementine, c, 505 



Samler, Maria, 496 
Sanford, Jane, 500 
Sanford, Jane, c, 500 
Sanford, William, c, 500 
Savage, Joseph W., c, 485 
Savage, Sarauel A., 485, 493 
Scroggins, Samuel, 500 
Scroggins, George, c, 500 
Scofield, Almira, 514 
Schmidt, George H., c, 508 
Schmidt, John F., 506, 508 
Schmidt, Marie S., c, 506 
Scott, Margaret, 493 
Shepherd, Thomas, 507 
Shepherd, Thomas F., c, 507 
Short, John, 482 
Short, John, c, 482 
Shurtliti, George, c, 490 
Shurtliff, James, 490, 491 
Shurtliff, James A., c, 491 
Shurtliff, Maria, 493, 494, 495, 

496, 498, 499 
Shurtliff, Mary, 492 
Shricy, Caroline, 509 
Skinner, Alexander, c, 507 
Skinner, Alexander R., 506, 507, 

508, 509, 510, 511, 515 
Skinner, Eliza, c, 509 
Skinner, Janet, 515 
Skinner, Jessie, c, 510 
Skinner, Harriet, c, 506 
Skinner, Marian, c, 508 
Skinner, Mary L., c, 515 
Skinner, Rebecca, c, 511 
Sleezer, Joanna, 506, 508 
Slorach, Isabella, 502, 503 
Smith, Elizabeth, 495 
Smith, Hannah, 494 
Smith, Jennie, 515 
Smith, John W., 501 
Smith, Margaret Ann, 516 
Smith, Margaret, 513, 515 
Smith, Maria L., c, 501 
Smith, Rev. Mr., 481 
Smith, Rose P., c, 501 
Smyth, Caroline, c, 513 
Smyth, Charles W., c, 513 
Smyth, Henry C, 513 
Sokell, Augustus J., c, 518 



Ilnbex to Baptisms 



539 



Sokell, John Walter, 518 
Solway, Elizabeth, c, 515 
Solway, John, 515 
Somerindyke, Caroline, 499, 507 
Somerindyke, Charles L., c, 499 
Somerindyke, George, c, 490 
Somerindyke, James C., 490, 499 
Somerindyke, Martha E., c, 499 
Somerindyke, Whitfield S., c, 

499 
Somerindyke, William H., c, 

499 
Stanton, Hannah, 486, 489, 492, 

494 
Stanton, Mary, 487 
Starke, Amelia M., c, 512 
Starke, Anna T., c, 511 
Starke, Ernest C. H., 512, 514 
Starke, Ernst J., c, 514 
Starke, George W. A., c, 514 
Starke, John H., c, 514 
Starke, Louis, c, 516 
Starke, Louis K., 511 =, 514, 516 
Starke, Louis W. H., c, 511 
Steele, Elizabeth A., c, 505 
Steele, Emily, 504, 510 
Steele, Henry, 505 
Steele, John H., c, 505 
Stephens, Benjamin S., c, 494 
Stephens, Benjamin, Jr., 494 
Stevens, Charles B., c, 497 
Stevens, Isaac V., c, 490 
Stevens, John J., c, 494 
Stevens, Thomas G., c, 492 
Stevens, Thomas J., 490, 492, 

494, 497 
Stewart, John J., 488 
Stewart, Sarah Schermerhorn, 

c, 488 
Stiller, Maria, 508 
Stokley, Amelia, 509 
Stokley, Eliza, 509 
Stratton, Catharine, c, 481 
Stratton, Sarah, c, 482 
Stratton, William, 481, 482, 484 
Stratton, William W., c, 484 
Striker, Helen, 491 2 
Striker, James, 483 
Striker, J. H., 498 
Striker, Jemimah, c, 483 
Striker, Lavinia, 488 
Striker, Maria, 491, 495, 497 
Stuart, Hannah C., c, 487 
Stuart, Julia, c, 485 
Stuart, William, 4852, 487 



Taggert, John, 510, 512 
Taggert, John J., c, 510 
Taggert, Mary A., 510, 512 
Taggert, Rachel A., c, 512 
Tappan, Arthur, 494 
Tappan, Arthur, c, 494 
Tappan, Mary L., c, 494 
Tates (Yates?), Mary, 490, 499 
Thompson, Catharine, 504, 505, 

506, 5082, 514 
Thompson, Nancy J., 511 2 
Thorp, Eliza, 481 
Thorp, Robert, 505 
Thorp, Robert, c, 505 
Thorp, William, c, 505 
Thompkins, Charlotte P., c, 507 
Thompkins, Emily L., c, 507 
Thompkins, William G., 507 
Topping, Hester, 506 
Torot, Elizabeth, 486 
Torrey, Edward P., c, 483 
Torrey, William, 483 
T3Tian, Jane, 482 

U 

Ulrick, Henry, 495 
Ulrick, Martin S., c, 495 



van Aken, Alexander G., c, 506 
van Aken, Rev. Enoch, 501 
van Aken, Enoch, c, 507 
van Aken, Enoch C, c, 519 
van Aken, Enoch, 519 
van Aken, Gulick, c, 501 
van Aken, Harold, c, 519 
van Aken, John, 506, 507 
van Buskirk, Caroline, c, 497 
van Buskirk, Lawrence, 4974 
van Buskirk, Sylvester S., 507 
van Buskirk, Sylvester S., c, 

497 
van Buskirk, Wm. h., c, 497 
van Buskirk, Virginia T.,c., 507^ 
van Emburgh, John, 484 li^r.f^^^, 
van Emburgh, Gilbert, c, 484 
van Norden, see also van Orden 
van Norden, Benjamin ^A.,'^ c, 

491 fe-P'f^Hsi '" 

van Norden, Hannah M., c, 491 
van Norden, Margaret F.,c., 492 



540 



Z\)c 1Rew ^oxk of IpeeterOa^ 



van Norden, Samuel, 491, 492 
van Norden, Sarah A., c, 491 
van Orden, see also van Norden 
van Orden, Elizabeth A., c, 496 
van Orden, John J., c, 493 
van Orden, Leah Jane, c, 494 
van Orden, Samuel, 487, 493, 

494, 495. 496 
van Orden, Samuel G., c, 495 
van Orden, Samuel J., c, 487 
van Pelt, Charlotte, 515 
van Zandt, Effe M., 495 
Varian, Andrew Hopper, c, 485 
Varian, Emeline, c, 485 
Varian, George W., c, 482 
Varian, Gilbert C., c, 481 
Varian, Isaac L., 4853, 487, 488, 

490. 493 
Varian, Isaac, c, 487 
Varian, Isaac, c, 493 
Varian, Isaac, 481, 482 
Varian, Letitia, 490, 492, 494, 

497 
Varian, Letitia S., c, 492 
Varian, Mary E., c, 490 
Varian, Mary W., c, 491 
Varian, Matilda C.,c., 488 
Varian, William, 491, 492, 493 
Varian, William H., c, 493 
Varian, Tamar L., c, 485 
Varick, Jane Dey, 487 2 
Volk, Hannah, 481 
von Post, Herman C, c, 495 
von Post, Laurenz N., 495 

W 

Wagner, Margaret, 512 
Waite, Elizabeth, 500, 504, 505 
Waite, George, c, 485 
Waite, John, c, 487 
Waite, William, 484, 485, 487 
Waite, William, c, 484 
Waldron, Elizabeth A., c, 514 
Waldron, George W., c, 514 
Waldron, Ida May, c, 514 
Waldron, Wm. H., 514 
Waldron, William H., c, 514 
Watkins, John S., 491 ^ 
Watkins, Harriet, c, 491 
Watkins, Mary Striker, c, 491 
Watts, Edward E., c. 510 
Watts, Elijah, 508, 509, 510, 513 
Watts, Emma M., c, 508 
Watts, Frank H., c, 513 
Watts, Frederick E., c, 509 



Watts, William J., c, 508 
Watson, George, 502, 503 
Watson, Isabella, c, 502 
Watson, Walter J., c, 503 
Webbers, Catharine, 481, 482, 

484 
Webbers, Hannah, 483, 484 
Webbers, Letitia, 485 
Webbers, Margaret, 484, 485, 

487 
Webbers, John, 482 
Webbers, Philip, c, 482 
Webbers, Sarah, 481, 482, 485, 

487, 489 
Wendelken, John, 509 
Wendelken, Caroline L., c, 509 
Welsh, Jane R., 495 
Westerfield, Catharine J. , c. , 493 
Westerfield, Cornelius, 493^, 

495> 497. 501 
Westerfield, Emma D., c, 501 
Westerfield, Mary E., c, 497 
Westerfield, Rachel, 497 
Westerfield, Rachel, c, 495 
Westerfield, William E., c, 493 
Westervelt, Eleanor, 489, 495 
White, Francis, 517 
White, Mary, 516 
Whitehead, John, 506 
Whitehead, John, c, 506 
Whitworth, Emma, 513 
Williams, John, 493, 494 
Williams, John K., c, 493 
Williams, Sarah C, 502 
Williams, William H., c, 494 
Williamson, Samuel, c, 482 
Williamson, William, 482 
Williamson, William, c, 482 
Wilkins, Mary, 48 7 
Winch, Charles A., 518 
Winch, Ida M., c, 518 
Windust, John, 496 
Windust, John, c, 496 
Windust, Mary, 496 
Wilson, Elspet, c, 492 
Wilson, John, 491, 492 
Wilson, John, c, 491 
Woodruff, Catharine M., c, 516 
Woodruff", David, 515 
Woodruff", David A., c, 513 
Woodruff", David C, 513, 516 
Woodruff, Elizabeth, c, 515 

Y 

Yates (Tates?), Mary, 490, 499 



appenMcee 



541 



a. autborfsation 

At a regular meeting held on March yth, 1907, the fol- 
lowing preamble and resolution was adopted by the Consis- 
tory of the 

Bloomingdale Reformed Church: 

Whereas, Mr. Hopper Striker Mott, a member and 
one of the officers of the Bloomingdale Reformed Church, 
has been engaged in the collection of data and preparation 
of a history of this Church, and the Bloomingdale region 
in which it is located, 

Resolved that we hereby heartily endorse and approve 
the work of Mr. Mott, and offer him every assistance 
in our power to aid him in completing the same, and for 
this purpose to place at his disposal all of the original 
manuscripts and other books, papers and documents now 
in possession of the Consistory, covering the history of the 
Bloomingdale Reformed Church for One Hundred Years. 

E. A. DiLLENBECK, 

Clerk. 
J6. IFncorporation 

We, Andrew Hopper and James Striker, the Elders, and 
Philip Webbers and Jacob Harsen, the Deacons (there not 
being any Minister) of the Reformed Protestant Dutch 
Church or Congregation at the place or neighborhood, in 
the Ninth Ward of the City of New York, known by the 
name of Harsenville, do hereby certify that the name or 
title by which we and our successors, the Minister, Elders, 

543 



544 Zl)c l^evo ^ox\{ of 13e0terbap 

and Deacons of the said Church or Congregation for the 
time being, as a body corporate by virtue of the Statute in 
such case made and provided, shall be known and distin- 
guished is THE CHURCH AT HARSENViLLE, according to the 
doctrine and discipline of the Synod of Dort. In testimony 
whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals the 
Sixth day of September in the year One Thousand Eight 
Hundred and Six. 

Witnesses: (Signed) Andrew Hopper 

" James Striker 

" Jacob Harsen 

" Philip Webbers 

State of New York, SS : On this 6th day of September, 
1806, personally came and appeared before me Andrew 
Hopper, James Striker, Jacob Harsen, Philip Webbers, to 
me known, who severally acknowledged that they executed 
the within certificate. I do therefore, agreeably to the act 
in such cases made and provided, allow the same to be 
recorded. 

(Signed) Wm. S. Rose, 

Clerk. 

Recorded in the Office of the Clerk of the City and County 
of New York in Lib. i of the Record of Incorporation of 
Religious Denominations, page 46, this i6th day of Septem- 
ber, 1806. 

Exam, by T. Wortman. 

d. Cbe SsnoD ot Dort 

At an early period of the Reformation the Protestants on 
the Continent were divided into two bodies, the Lutheran 
and the Reformed. The latter became dominant in the 
Netherlands, where they maintained their religious liberties 
only after a long, costly, and bloody struggle against the 
gigantic power of Philip II., during which they suffered 
all that men could suffer. So calamitous was their con- 
dition before the Eighty Years' War that they gave them- 



appenbicee 545 

selves the name of the Church under the Cross, and their 
symbol was "A Lily amidst Thorns." 

In 1566, while war was raging, the deputies of the 
churches met in Antwerp and adopted the Belgic Confes- 
sion, which continues to this day to be one of the doctrinal 
standards of the Reformed in Holland. 

About the same time the Heidelberg Catechism, which 
had been issued (1563) in German by the Palatine Elector, 
Frederick III., was translated into Dutch and widely 
circulated in the Netherlands. 

Doctrinal differences having arisen among the Reformed, 
a Synod was convened by the States-General at Dort 
(1618, 161 9), to which all the Reformed Churches of 
Europe (save Anhalt) were invited to send delegates, and 
all did so; only the four selected by the French were for- 
bidden to attend. The British deputies were George 
Carlton, Bishop of Llandaff ; John Davenant, Professor of 
Theology at Cambridge; Samuel Ward, of Sidney College, 
Cambridge, and Joseph Hall, afterward Bishop of Norwich. 
Walter Balcanqual, a Scotch presbyter, was also deputed 
by King James to represent the Scottish Church. This 
body expressed its conclusions in Canons under five heads 
of doctrine ; and these Canons were accepted by the National 
S3niod. After the foreign delegates had withdrawn, the same 
National Synod revised the Belgic Confession and the 
Heidelberg Catechism and the Rules of Church Govern- 
ment, and also set forth liturgical forms for use in public 
worship. 

The Church of Holland, thus fully organized, soon became 
distinguished for learning, soundness in the faith, and 
practical godliness. She not only maintained a close 
correspondence with sister churches, but often had the 
advantage of the presence of their distinguished men, since 
Holland was the common refuge of all the persecuted 
believers in Europe. Huguenots, Waldenses, Covenanters, 
and Puritans found a safe asyltim on her hospitable shores. 
From A Brief Account of an Historic Church 

35 



546 ^be Bew l?orti of l?e9ter^a^ 

The Reformed Faith was transferred to America in 
1625 and during the Dutch occupation was the State or 
EstabHshed Church of New Netherland. Its sister de- 
nomination, the Lutheran, planted an outpost in New 
Amsterdam in 1653, the Hebrews in 1654, the Friends 
in 1657, and the Presbyterians in 1662. The Church of 
England did not establish itself in New York until 1692. 



2>. "fflotable ©Ifts anD Memorials 

181 7. Silver seal presented by Andrew Hopper and 

Jacob Harsen. 

1818. Tablet to Mrs. Barbara Asten. 

1828. Silver Communion Service. 

1829. Tablet to Rev. Dr. Gunn. 
1885. Tablet to Jacob Harsen. 
1885. Tablet to Domine van Aken. 
1885. Tablet to the Dead of the Parish. 

1893. Brass pulpit, to Susan M. Maurer, died April 30. 

1893. Window. Tribute of the Church to Charles E. 

Hutchinson. 

1894. Double window to Charles Bauer, born Oct. 24, 

1850, died Dec. 24. 

1894. Double window to C. B. Rowland, born Oct. 8, 

1851, died Apr. 20. 

1897. Easter. Four silver collection plates, to James B. 

D. MacNab. 
1903. Tablet to Charles Sumner Lester, Superintendent 

Sunday-school from 1896 to 1903. 
1903. Brass Lectern inscribed "To the Sunday-school of 

Bloomingdale Reformed Dutch Church in loving 

remembrance from their late Superintendent. 

Charles Sumner Lester." 
1906. Window in the Fifth House of Worship, "In Loving 

Memory of the Parents of Mr. and Mrs. Runyon 

Pyatt." 



HppenMces 



547 



1906. Window in the Fifth House of Worship, " In Loving 
Memory of Mrs. George Henry Gilbert, given by 
Her Friends." 



B, ©fRcers from tbe Date ot ®rganf3ation 

pastors 

The Rev. Alexander Gunn, S.T.D., .from 1808 to 1829 



Francis M. Kip 

John AlBurtis 

Enoch van Aken 

Carlos Martyn 

Madison C. Peters 

WilHam C. Stinson, D.D . 

Q^reasurers 



1830 to 1831 
1832 to 1834 
1835 to 188s 
1883 to 1889 
1889 to 1900 
1900 to 



Andrew Hopper from 1806 to 1809 

Jacob Harsen 

James Striker , . 

Henry Post 

Richard A. Striker 

John H. Striker 

David Law , 

Cornelius Westerfield 

John Waite 

Thomas J. Emmons 

John K. Curtis 

Samuel B. Reed 

J. Edward Mastin 

Runyon Pyatt 



Cler?56 or Secretaries 



" 1809 


to 


I8I0 


" I8I0 


to 


I8I4 


" I8I4 


to 


1822 


1822 


to 


1832 


" 1832 


to 


1838 


" 1838 to 


1839 


" 1839 


to 


1840 


" 1840 


to 


1843 


" 1843 


to 


I88I 


" I88I 


to 


1882 


" 1882 


to 


1890 


" 1890 


to 


1905 


" I90S 


to 





James Striker from 1806 to 1828 

Ichabod Prall " 1828 to 1830 

Richard A. Striker " 1830 to 1832 

John H. Striker " 1832 to 1838 



548 



Z\)C flew Wovl{ of ipe6terbai? 



Caspar Meier from 1838 to 



Cornelius Westerfield 

Gerard William Livingston 

John N. Boyd 

Thomas J. Emmons 

Samuel Hanaway 

George E. Dunlap 

Daniel Howell 

Dr. Richard J. Secor 

Louis Bauer 

Nathaniel Tuttle 

George W. Mersereau 

Edward A. Dillenbeck 



1839 to 

1842 to 

1843 to 
i860 to 
1881 to 
1886 to 

1890 to 

1891 to 

1897 to 

1898 to 

1899 to 
1903 to 



1839 

1842 

1843 

i860 
I88I 
1886 

1890 

I89I 

1897 

1898 
1899 
1903 



With dates of election and service 

Andrew Hopper from 1805 to 

James Striker " 1805 to 

Jacob Harsen " 1814 to 

Ichabod Prall " 1824 to 

Richard A. Striker " 1830 to 

James Quackenbush " 1830 to 

John Parks " 1835 to 

David Patterson " 1837 to 

John H. Striker " 1837 to 

Casper Meier " 1838 to 

Cornelius Westerfield " 1840 to 

Gerard William Livingston. . . " 1842 to 

John N. Boyd " 1842 to 

Henry Quick " 1843 to 

William Holmes " 1843 to 

Thomas J. Emmons " 1854 to 

Robert Carss " 1861 to 

Henry S. Mitchell " 1862 to 

John K. Curtis " 1867 to 

Samuel B. Reed " 1881 to 



1824 
1830 

1835 
1830 

1835 
1840 

1838 
1838 
1838 

1839 
1842 
1844 
1862 
1849 

1854 
1881 
1869 
1879 
1882 
1891 



EppenMcee 



549 



Samuel Hanaway from li 

William M. Stout 

George E. Dunlap 

Daniel Howell 

Jeremiah H. Lant 

Charles Wessell 

J. Edward Mastin 

Edward P. Cone 

William A. Moore 

Louis Bauer 

Henry Daily, Jr 

Runyon Pyatt 

Gen. George W. Mindil 

Edward A. Dillenbeck 

Gilbert Ray Hawes 



1885 
1888 
1890 
1890 
1891 
1891 
1892 

1893 
1896 
1897 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1907 



to 1888 
to 1890 
to 1890 
to 1892 
to 1892 
to 1892 
to 1905 
to 1896 
to 1897 
to 1 90 1 

to IQOO 

to 

to 1902 

to 

to 



Deacons 

With dates of election and service 

Jacob Harsen from 1805 to 1814 

Philip Webbers " 1805 to 1814 

Henry Post " 1814 to 1822 

Samuel A. Lawrence " 1814 to 1816 

Ichabod Prall " 1815 to 1824 

Daniel Mack " 1816 to 1881 

John Asten " 1818 to 1830 

Richard A. Striker " 1822 to 1830 

James Quackenbush " 1824 to 1830 

John H. Striker " 1830 to 1837 

John Parks " 1830 to 1835 

David Patterson " 1830 to 1837 

David Law " 1837 to 1839 

Ackerly Fitch " 1837 to 1838 

Cornelius Westerfield " 1838 to 1840 

Thomas J. Emmons " 1838 to 1854 

John Waite " 1840 to 1844 

Henry Quick " 1842 to 1843 



550 Zhc IRevo l?ork of l?e0terbap 

Peter Rennie from 1843 to 1858 

Duncan Macfarlan " 1854 to 1859 

Robert Carss " 1858 to 1861 

George Robertson " 1861 to 1863 

George H. Pimley " 1863 to 1867 

Jonas Hanaway " 1863 to 1867 

Charles Wood " 1867 to 1883 

Jacob Flick " 1874 to 1881 

Samuel Hanaway " 1881 to 1882 

Otis D. Stewart " 1881 to 1883 

George E. Dunlap " 1883 to 1888 

Joseph P. Deyo " 1883 to 1886 

William J. Lyon " 1885 to 1887 

Dr. F. Spencer Halsey " 1887 to 1891 

Charles E. Gildersleeve " 1887 to 1888 

J. Edward Mastin " 1888 to 1891 

Dr. Eugene H. Porter " 1888 to 1889 

Erwin H. Schuyler " 1889 to 1890 

Charles F. Terhune " 1890 to 1900 

Runyon Pyatt " 1 891 to 1900 

Dr. Richard J. Secor " 1891 to 1897 

Henry M. McCord " 1891 to 1892 

Nathaniel Tuttle " 1897 to 1899 

George W. Mersereau " 1899 to 1907 

Peter Wagner " 1900 to 1902 

Edward A. Dillenbeck " 1901 to 1902 

Dr. Charles M. Thompson " 1902 to 1904 

William Henry Burr " 1903 to 1906 

Gilbert Ray Hawes " 1904 to 1907 

Hopper Striker Mott " 1907 to 



3f. Signatures ot irnM\>i&uals Connectet) wttb tbe 

Cburcb 





^J<^^''^t-<5' 



'lx.d>t_^ 











^>'^-^«-<*'5»-^^ 



551 



552 ^be Bew l?ork of l?e0terba\> 



,^/L<^=^i^. 




C^ 



at/'yvt^ cy^f- 



,y/tanjhA. "yrnic 



'h 



^ 









r^' 








Qc^^eJ(^iniM:^CU/ 






appenbicee 553 










554 ^be *Wew l?orJi of IJeaterbai? 








ftrfJJ-;!**-^ 






(Beneral 1InC>ex 



H 



Aartse, Davidt, 127 

"Abbey the," Hotel, 24; loca- 
tion 44 ; description 45 ; burned 
46, 98 

Abeel, Magdalena (Beekman) , 
386, chart 

Academy of medicine, 135, 137 

of music, 93 

Ackerman, Balaam, 376 

Isaac, 307 

Jane C, 366 

John, obit., 248 

Mr., 200 

Rachel (Westerfield) , 307 

366 
Adams, Abigail (Mack), 322 
Austin, 423 

John, 186, 204 

John G., M.D., 133, 136, 

169 



John Quincy, 370 

Joseph H., 422, 423 

Maude, 293 

Adams & Parker, school, 352 
Adams, Samuel, 310 
Adriance, Isaac, 316 
Aetna Fire Insurance Co., iii 
Akin, Catherine, Miss, 278 

Richard W., died, 278 

Albemarle, Lord, 49 
Albertson, Ann (Striker), 1734, 
119 

Albert, 140 

Derick, II., 119 

Albout, Ann M. (Walters), 401 
AlBurtis, John, Rev., 209, 210, 

377 
Alexander, Cato, opens ordinary 
69, 70; tavern, 97 



Alexander, Lady Mary (Watts), 

373 

Allen, Janet, 399 

Horatio P., 240, 241 

AUerton, Lucy B., 396 

Alner, James, Lt.-col., 58, 315 

Alport, John, 52 

Alston, Theodosia (Burr), 26 

Joseph, 26 

Alva, Regency of, 114 

American Board of Foreign Mis- 
sions, 433 

Bible Society, 195, 324, 



379 



Homeopathic Institute, 



323 



Horse Exchange, 105 

— Institute, 353 

— Scenic & Historic Preser- 
vation Soc, 76 

— Seaman's Friend Soc, 369, 



379 



Sunday-School Union, 434, 
440 
Amerman, Thomas A., Rev., 

399 

Amory, James, 395 

Martha, 199, 200 

Amsterdam, N. Y., 301 

Anderson, Andrew, 401 

James W., 187, 189 

Andros, Gov., 325, 370 

Ann Street, 108, 11 1 

Anneke Jans, 142 

Ansonia Apartments, 91 

Antoinette, Marie, 87 

Apollo Rooms, 391 

Appleton, the publisher, 90 

Apthorp, Ann, 333 

Charles Ward, 14, sus- 
pected 42, 47, 118, 333 



555 



556 



^be 1Rew IJork of 13e0terbai? 



Apthorp, Charlotte (van den 

Heuvel), 332 
Lane, 5, 15, 17; British 

encamped along, 38, 58 

Mansion, built 1764, 14, de- 



scription, 15,41, British Gen- 
erals at, 41, 334 
Tract, 12 



Apthorp's Tour, 58 
Armstrong, Fannie C, 403 

George F., 403 

Lelia K., 404 

Lizzie M., 404 

Ariaens (Adriaens), Ariaentje 

(Webber), 147 
Arkenburgh, Henry, 52 
Robert H., residence, 82; 

description grounds, 440 
Arsenal in Central Park, 198 
Ash, Thomas, 360 
Ashby, Sarah, 399, death of, 

414 
Assessment, Commission of, 

1880, 239 
Asten, Barbara, Mrs., 179, 180, 

182, 187; monument 190, 192, 

204; tombstone 233; obit., 248, 

252 ; tablet 254 
John, 71, 157, 186; deacon 

192, 193, 197, 199, 204, obit., 

248, 254, 356 
Vault, 200 



Astor, family, 96 

House, 337 

John Jacob, 2, 3, 83, 186, 

337. 362 

Library, 92 

Wm. Waldorf, 426 



Asylum, street (West 4th), 90 
Atterbury, Anson P., Rev. Dr., 

265, 381 
Atwater, E. R., Rev., 431, 439 
Auchmuty, Susan, 397 
Austrian Succession, War of, 

1744, 33 
Aycrigg, Charles, 123 
Gerard B., 123 

Backer, Jacobus, 347 
Bacon, Leonard, Dr., 380 
Bailey, Theodoras, Adj., 53 
Baker (Purdy), Harriet (Felix), 

418 
Mary Q. (Duryea), 296 



Baker, Matthew, 296 

Baldwin, Rev. Mr., school, 
198 

Balies, G. Jr., 264 

Bancker, Abraham, 109 

Anna (de Peyster), 386, 

chart 

Bank of America, 384 

New York, 333, 339 

Bansel's Military Academy, pu- 
pils at defences, 71; location 
93.432 

Rev. Mr., 194, 204 

Banta, David, 149 

Hanna, 150 

Helena (Webbers), 150 

Hendrik, 150, 151 

Robert, 313 

Wierd, 151 

Baptisms, 481, Index to 530 

Baptists, persecution of, 338 

Barbarie, Abraham V., 203 

Robert Farmer, 203 

Barberie, John, Ensign, 32 

Barker, Jacob, 59, 60, 61; loca- 
tion of residence, 83 

Joshua, 178 

Barlow, Hannah, 164, 394 

John, 164, 394 

Barnum's Museum, 107 

Bamewell, Mr., 163, 164 

Barrett, Walter, quoted, 343 

Bas, John, Sr., 31 

John, Jr., 31 

Battery, the 57, 68 

Battle, of Long Island, 37 

Bauer, Caroline, 403 

Dora, 403 

Louis, 277 

Paul, 402 

Bayard, Ann, 1812, no 

Elizabeth, no 

Elizabeth (Rodgers), 370 

Col., of Delaware, 370 

family, 370 

James A., 370 

James A., U. S. Commis- 
sioner, 370 

John, Col., 370 

Mary, Rodgers (Kip), 370, 

371 



Nicholas, Alderman, 36 
140 note, 344 

— Peter, 1813, no 

— Petrus, 370 

— Samuel, 370 



(Beneral flnbei 



557 



Bayard, Stephen N., 71, 345, 
371, 184,186,194,199,200,204 
Bayley, Joseph, M.D., 202, 320 
Bayles, Lewis C, Rev., 381 
Beard, Martha (Holmes), 360 

Martha Wilson, 360, 388 

Rebecca (Holmes), 360 

William E., 388 

William J., 388, 402 

Beck, Eliza (Bumham), 364 
Beckley, Leonard, 400 

Mary (Ilsley), 397 

Bedloe's Island, 64 
Beekman, Abraham K., 71, 74, 
186, 344, 345, sketch 346, 371 

Ann, 1805, 109 

Catherine, 1796, 109 

Catherine (Boudinot), 345 

Cornelia (Cox), 345 

Eliza, 1804, 109 

Eliza (Livingston), 386, 

chart 

Garret, 35 

George, 109 

Gerard, Capt., 32, 51 

Gerard, 186, 345 

Gerard, son A. K., 345 

Gerard W., 346, 386, chart 

Gerardus, M.D., 386, chart 

Henry, 1796, 109 

Henry, Lieut., 32 

James, thanked 69, 71 

James, father of A. K., 



345, 346 

— James W., 345 

— Jane (Borrowe), 345 
Jane (Van Cortlandt), 345, 



346 



Johannah, 74, 184, 194, 

19s, 315, 344, 346 

John, 52, 71, 186, 199, 204, 



208, 344 

John, son of A. K., 345 

John C, 345 

Lydia (Foulke), 345 

Mansion, 24 

Mary (Bayard), 371 

Mary A. (de Peyster), 345 

Mary N. (Bayard), 345 

Richard, 109 

Samuel, 345 

Willem, Schepen, 140, 386, 

chart 

— William, 345 

— William, M.D., 386, chart 

— William P., 345 



Beinhauer, Frederick, 177 

Belcher, , 323 

Bell, John A., 313 

Belle view, 58 

Belmont, August, Sr., 90 

Benedict, Erastus C, quoted 48 

Benjamin, Asa, 343 

Eastburn, Rev., 343 

John, Col., 343 

Meigs de L., Col., 343 

Bennet, Alex., 401 

Benson, Adolph, 31, 77 

Benjamin, 53, 77, 78, 178 

Benjamin D., 71 

Catharine, 77 

Catalina, 77 

Derick, Serg., 30 

Egbert, Amer. Commis- 
sioner, 56 

Harman, 32 

Henry, Serg., 32 

John, 31, Ensign, 32 

Margaret, 77 

Robert, Ensign, 32, 33 

Samson, 32, 53, 71, 77 

Samuel, 178 

Thomas, 52 

William, 52 

Benson's Point, fortifications at, 
72 

Benton, "Old Bullion," 393 

Berge, Edward, organist, 245 

Bergen, N. J., 323 

Berrien, Anna (Duryea), 296 

Bethune, Divie, 90 

Bethune, Divie Mrs., 419 ; sketch 
90, 91 

George W., Rev. Dr., 91, 

quoted, note on portrait, 162 

Bethune Street, 90 

Betts, Haram, obit., 248 

Jane (Varian), 357 

Bibby, Gouvemeur S., 332 

Billeu, Maria (de Prael), 342 

Peter, 342 

Bissland, Marion (Carss), 367 

Black, Thomas W., 402 

Blackford, Providence (Run- 
yon), 296 

Blake, Isaac D., 376 

Blanchard, Jane (Day), 325 

Marie, 295 

Blanck, Alonzo, 402 

Blatner, Caroline (Kreider), 403 

Blick, William, 402 

Bliss, Theresa, 401 



558 



Zbc Bew ^ov\{ of l?e0terba^ 



Bliss, James, 401 

Blind Asylum, 298 

Blockhouse No. i (Central 
Park), 73, 75 

Bloemendael, iii, i 

Bloomfield, Joseph, Gen., 63 

Bloomingdale, meaning of, xxiv. ; 
whence derived, i ; limits of 
2, 3, 4; poems written in, 13, 
336; military history, 28; 
window leads of families taken 
for bullets, 37; illness in, 215; 
slavery in, 303-5; French 
refugees, 35, 418; 302, 305, 
332, 343. 349. 350, 355; orig- 
inal Pres. Church in, 380, 381; 
382, 405, 409; stagnant, 429; 
burial ground in, 438; prior to 
1853, 440; described, 231; 
names of families, 184, 185; 
condition of in 1835, 210, 211; 
war history, 28 et seq.; gas 
lighted first, 1857, 431; tav- 
ern, 94; local fire company, 
99, 416 

(Union) Academy, 93, 123, 

133. 168 

Asylum, 7, 25, 36, 48; vide 

N. Y. Hospital 

Church, Reformed Dutch; 



guide-posts along the cen- 
tury's pathway, xxi. ; in- 
troduction, xxiii. ; present 
location, 47; first Consistory, 
100, et seq.; vaults, 124; his- 
tory, 157—297; first minister, 
161; sale pews, 177, 183; As- 
ten gift, 179, 180; Jumel bell, 
181, reserved from sale, 267; 
sale Asten lots, 182; 2nd 
House of Worship dedicated, 
184, 185; cost of edifice, 190; 
Lord's Supper, manner of ob- 
servance, 191; members dis- 
ciplined, 194, 218; Beekman 
bequest, 195; burial ground, 
200; names of persons in- 
terred, 202 ; Dr. Gunn's death, 
205; second minister, 207; 
original edifice burned, 209; 
third minister, 209; public 
vault, 214; fourth minister, 
210; original site rented, 214, 
215; diagrams of interior, 
1854, 219, 220; fair of that 
year, 221, 437, 438; diagram 



first site, 223; first insured 
against fire, 228; Harsen heirs 
quit-claim, 224, 226, 227; sec- 
ond edifice to be demolished, 
228; last sermon quoted, 230, 
231; retrospect, 232; last ser- 
vice, 1869, 232; destroyed, 
232, 233 ; third House of Wor- 
ship, 233; Striker bequest, 
234. 235; first woman singer 
mentioned, 236; proceedings 
to vacate liens, 237 ; fifth min- 
ister, 244; 4th House of Wor- 
ship, 246, 247; description of 
location, 246; additional land 
purchased, 249, 251; cost of 
new edifice, 251; description, 
252; death of Domine van 
Aken, 254; last pastor of 
Dutch descent, 257; dedica- 
tion, 258, 260; chapel disman- 
tled, 266; balance "Parsonage 
Acre" sold, 267; memorial to 
the dead, 268, tablet, 269; 
Sunday-school, 268, 275, 276, 
278; burden of debt, 269; 
erection of spire, 272, 273; 
sixth minister, 273; Advisory 
Board, 276, members of first, 
277; individual communion 
cups introduced, 278; seventh 
minister, 283; new site sug- 
gested, 289, 290; purchased, 
291; last service, 291; plans 
5th House of Worship, 292; 
comer-stone laid, 292; de- 
scription of new edifice, 294; 
on historic site, xxiii., 47; 
dead of parish, 2 96 ; Centenary 
exercises, 295; Pyatt & Gil- 
bert windows unveiled, 293, 
295; distinguished lineage of 
organization, 298; ist House 
of Worship, 325; Park Pres. 
Ch. child of, 381; old time 
reminiscences, 428; occupants 
of square pews, 431, 436; 
description of interior 2nd 
House of Worship, 432 ; grave- 
yard, 436; improvements 
made, 438; anniversaries, 438, 
439, 440; fair, 441 ; raising the 
flag, 1864, 442, 443, 444. vide 
Church at Harsenville; Burial 
Ground; Parsonage, also all 
appendices 



(Beneral Ifnbei 



559 



Bloomingdale Cross Road, the 
new (Apthorp Lane), 42 

District, xxv., 2, 5 

Road, 2, opened 1703, 4; 

extended 1795, 7; 16, retreat 
along 37; British pickets sta- 
tioned on 38; 42, 44, 45, 58; 
drive 96, 97; 98; sleighing 
carnival on, 138, 187 ; widened, 
1849, 218; 376; a tour along, 
411, 426; a great drive, 413, 
415; 416, 419; reckless driving 
on, 435; 443 

Heights, works at, 317; 



295, 389, 394, 426, vide Har- 
lem Heights. 

— Square (original), 2, 10; 
(new) named xxvi, 19 

— Village, 7, 19, 378, 408 
Stages, 98, driver killed in 



storm, 441 
Board, Cornelius, 314 

David, 315 

Elizabeth (Post), 201, 314 

James, 314, 315 

Joseph, 315 

of Education, 385 

Bock^ Abraham, 127 

Jaqiiemyntje (Harsen), 127 

Boelen, Abraham, Capt., 32 
Bogart, David S., Rev., 123, 

159, 327 note 

Mr., thanked, 69 

Bogert, Albert, 109 

Andrew, 109, no 

Eliza, 1805, 109 

James, 109 

Jane, 181 2, no 

Jane (Anderson), 401 

— '■ — Jacob, 1812, no 

Jacobina, loi 

Jennett (Kearny), 373 

John B., no 

John Mc, 373 

Margaret, 1809, no 

Margaret, 1807, 109 

Peter, 1804, 109 

Peter, 1808, 109 

Peter, 109 

Sally, 1812, no 

Sarah (Ray), 337 

Wert, no 

Boggs, James, residence 89, 169, 

178, 197,204,334 

John, S3 

Julia (Livingston), 334, 89 



Boggs, Sarah, 89 

Bombay Hoeck, 370 

Bonaparte, Joseph, at Clare- 
mont, 26 

Bonar, Horatius, 428 

Bonesteel, Mr., 426 

Boomgaert (Bogert), Wyntje 
Comelise (Stryker), 118 

Booth, Robt. R., D.D., 276 

Borrens (Burns), Ann (Web- 
bers), 151 

Borrowe, Jacob H., 345 

Samuel, 177, 335; resi- 
dence, 336, 344 
Samuel, Jr., 344 



Boudinot, Elisha, 345 

Boulevard, opened 1868; award 
paid 229; construction begun, 
228, 232; grading completed, 
237; elms 257; effort to con- 
struct "L" road, 278; 417, 
419; named, 1870, 438 

Boutcher, Ann, (Runyon), 296 

Bower, Lane, 4, 57 

Theatre, 57 

Bowen, Eliza (Mme. Jumel), 
326 

Bowley, James, 398 

Bowne, Abigail S., 339 

Amelia, 339 

Amy, 339 

Eliza (Skillman), 339 

family, 338, 339 

George, 339 

Gulielma, 339 

Hannah, 339 

Lewis, 340 

Matilda, 339 

Robert L., 333, 339 

Rowland G., 339 

Samuel S., 339 

Walter, Mayor, 340 

Boyd, Miriam, 400 

John N., 213, 224, 398 

Susan, 398 

Bradhurst & Field, 61, 68, 69 

Bradley, James F., 397 

Brandon, Martha (Osgood), 321 

Brass, Sophia (Powis), 395 

Bratt, Anna (Schuyler), 355 

Brazier, Abraham, thanked, 69 

Breakneck Hill, 48 

Bremner, Andrew, Capt., 64 

Bremner, James, 397 

Breuckelin, (Brooklyn), 117 

Brevoort, Hendrick, 127 



56o 



Zhe IRevo jPork of ipesterbai? 



Brevoort, John G., 178 

John'V., 336 

Brewerton, George, Col., 49 

George, Jr., Capt., 33 

Brewster & Co., 3 

Brick Meeting House (Dr. 

Spring's), 336, 386, 409 
Bridge, Joel, 178 
Brinckerhoff, Abraham, 178 

Seba, pensioner, 54 

Brigham, Ellen (Bowley), 197, 

398 

C. DeWitt, Rev. Dr., 245 

Brigs, Ann M., (Love), 400 

Broadway, 182, 187, 188; grad- 
ing, 226, 228; outlet sewer at 
66th St., 237 

Savings Bank, 353 

Tabernacle, 439 

Block, Rebecca, 400 

Brockholst, Susanna (French), 

331 

Brooks, Eldridge H., 360, 416 

James, 360 

William H., 360 

Brooklyn fortifications, 71; 
stopped work at, 72 

Broome, John, Lt.-Gov,, 33, 35; 
residence, 86, 89, 332, 419 

County, named for Lt.- 
Gov., 87 

Street, named for Lt.-Gov., 



332 

Bronck's Land (Morrisania) , 8 

Brown, Elizabeth (Post), 317 

family, the, 202 

David S., 375 

University, 318 

Joseph, Street Commis- 
sioner, 85, 86 

Broiiwer, Petronella (Post), 320 

Seijbrand, 152 

Brunish, Eliza (Bennet), 401 

Buchanan, James, British Con- 
sul, 202, 333 

Buchanan & Thompson, 333 

Buck, Dr., 136 

Mr., 194 

Buckley Mansion 24 

Bull's Head Tavern, 57 

Bullock (Broome) Street, 87 

Burnham, Ann (Van Buskirk), 

365 

Cordelia M., 364 

Charles, 364 

George, 95 



Burnham, Harriet N. (Talcott), 

364 
James C, Col., 95, 204, 364, 

365 



Julia M., 364 

Mary L., 364 

William, 53, 95, 194, 203, 

364 
Burnham's (Mansion House), 

98, 425, 426 
Burger, Engeltie (Hassens), 127 
Burgher right, the, introduced 

115 

Burgoyne, Isabella E. (Law- 
rence), 312 

William, 312 

Burial Ground (Harsenville), 
200; rules therein, 201, 202; 
interments, 201, 202, 203; 
described, 1878, 233; 236, 
237; assessed, 238; site 4th 
House of Worship, 247; re- 
port Committee in charge of 
removal of remains, 249; con- 
dition of, 1878, 233 

Burr, Aaron, 26, 326; at Bloom- 
ingdale Church, 327; married, 

334 

Aaron, Rev. Dr., 327 

Burtis, Martha (Amory), 395 
Bushwick, 117 
Bussing, Aaron, 32 

Isaac, 32 

Byard (Bayard), David, no 
Mary, 1840, no 



Cadez, Loretta (Barbarie), 203 
Calico Print Factory, 415 
Cameron, Robert, 397 
Campbell, Rachel, 397 
Canada, 28; expedition against, 
1690, 29; second expedition, 

1709. 30; 33 
Canal, Mme., 138 
Candies, names of old-fashioned, 

425 

Cannon and Mortars mounted, 
number of, 73 

Capoens, Christina, 141 

Cappiopean Soc, 318 

Cargill, Annie, belle of Harsen- 
ville, 83 

David, 11; house, 10, n 



(Beneral llnbei 



561 



Cargill, David — (Continued) 
178, 194, 199, 304, 207, 213; 
property, 82 

Mrs. David, 199 

Isaac, 52 

Cargill & Sonntag, 1 1 

Carlton, Sir Guy, raid of upper 

Hudson, 51; 56 
Carrick, Mr., 194 
Carrigan, Andrew, 25 
Carss, Marion B., xxv., 405 

Mary C, 367 

John, 367 

John B., 367 

Robert, 222, 367 

Caryl, Emily (Halden), 414 
family, 414 

Isaac, 385 

Sarah, 414 

Castle Garden, 63 
Cato's Road, 69 
Cedarville, N. Y., 308 
Cemeteries, burials forbidden in 

228; exempted from taxation, 
239, 241 

Central Park, 12, 42, 43, 55, 73; 
Mt. St. Vincent in, 77; Har- 
lem Mere, 78; 85, 92, 97; the 
Arsenal, 198, 295, 335, 387, 
411 

Central Park West, 215 

Central Presbyterian Church, 
410 

Chamber of Commerce, 337, 341, 
376, 379, 383 

Chambers, T. W. Rev. Dr., 245, 

259 
Chandler, Elizabeth (Williams), 

313 

Chatham Street, 139 

Chaudlet, Joseph, family, vil- 
lage oracle, 417 

Chelsea, xxiii 

Cheriot, Henry, Jr., 178 

"Cherry Lane," 44 

Street, 319 

"Chevilly," 87, 88 

Cheeseborough, slave, 304 

Cheever's, Dr., church, 439 

Child, Francis, Jr., 375 

Children's Fold, 19 

Chimney sweeps, 197, 406 

Church, All Angel's, 424 

at Harsenville organized, 

130; formed, 157, 159; 
First House of Worship, 161, 
36 



163; Second House of Wor- 
ship, 169; Second site, 171, 
172, 174; Corner-stone laid, 
174; building committee, 175; 
marble tablet, 176; commun- 
ion service purchased, 199; 
Harsen bequest, 211; local 
name, 221; 350; Domine Kip 
ordained at, 368; anniversary 
of, 409; described, 428; found- 
ed by Jacob Harsen, 429. 
Vide Bloomingdale Ref'd 
Church. 

Church, .Collegiate of St. Nich- 
olas, 100 

Brick, the, 318 

Eighth Presbyterian, 161 

Harlem, at, 176 

Mary, 396 

members laboring at 

Brooklyn Works, 71 

Middle Dutch Reformed 



(N. Y. Post-ofiSce) 100, 306 
Twenty-first Street Re- 



formed, 301 
of England, established in 

New York, 1692, 546 
"Church of Midwout," 324 
"Church in the Fort," the, 100. 

Vide also under individual 

church titles. 
Churchill, Mary H., obit., 248 
Cipp, Charlotta (Overmeyer), 

404 
Cisco, Elizabeth (Day), 303 
City Bank, 189 

College, 387 

Hall plundered, 56; 358, 



376 



Hall Park, 331, 409 
History Club, 76 
Hotel, 90 



Civil War, 388, 441; incidents, 

442 
Claes, Anna, 152 
"Claremont," 26, 39, 40, 48, 

317, 345, 417 
Clark, Alfred C, 244 

Cyrus, 17 

Emmons Col., quoted, 64, 



65 



282 



George, Lt.-Gov., 30 
Mary L. (Morgan), 402 
William, 399 
William W., Rev., 264, 



562 



JLbe flew l?ork of l^eeterbai? 



Clarkson, David M., 71 

estate, 94 

family, 22 

house, 19 

Matthew, 25 

Clay, Henry, 353; obsequies, 393 
Clendenin, Charlotte, no 

George, no 

George, 1846, no 

William, 1842, no 

Clendining, John, 61, 186, 199, 

202, 204, 208; mansion, 336 

Lane, 336 

Letitia, 336 

Margaret, 336 

Mrs., 198 

William, 336 

Clermont, Manor of, 331 
Clinn, Mahala (Feitner), 376 
Clinton, De Witt, 67, 123, 311 

George, Gov., 33, 77, 298 

Henry, Sir, occupies Ap- 

thorp Mansion, 38; 42, 57, 
120 
Coach hire, rates of, 1789, 58 
Cobb, Henry E., Rev. Dr., 283, 

292, 295 
Cock, William T., 88 
Cockcroft, James, M.D., 133 
Coe, Edward B., Rev. Dr., 245, 

264, 292, 295 
Coek (Koeck), Hendrik, 139 
Coffee House, 58 
Coit, Daniel L., 377 

Maria (Perit), 377 

Colden, Major, 417 
Cole, Isaac D., 395 
Coles, Anne (Mott), 10; note 52 
College of New Jersey (Prince- 
ton), 162 
of Physicians and Sur- 
geons, 134, 136, 323 
Collegiate Church, 130; Consist- 
ory of, 171, 229, 230 

school 1633, 130; names of 

scholars, note, 109, no 
Colonial Assembly, met at Dyck- 

man's, 1752, 77 
Colored people, pews reserved 
for, 221 

Orphan Asylum, 351 

Columbia College, 57; students 
work at defences, 70; 134, 
159, 162, 208, 209, 323, 324, 
325- 329, 341, 368, 369, 372, 
384 



Columbia University, 25,40, 75, 

394 
Columbus Circle, 371 
Colve, Gov., 113 
Commissioners of Estimate and 

Assessment, 229 
Committee of Defence, 61,62,63, 

67, 70; issues another call, 72; 

390 

of Safety, 1776, 35 

Common Council, 62, 318 

lands, 314 

Commons, road across the, 86 
Comstock, A. M. F., Mrs., 404 

D. W., 277 

Concklin, Caleb, 196 

Joseph, 196 

Concord, 321; North Carolina, 

301 
Cone, Edward P., 276 
Coning, Jacob, 151 
Conkling, Davis, 428 
Connecticut Rangers, the, 38, 

39. 40 
Conover, George, 440 
Conseil de Malines, Grand, the, 

103 
Consistory, meaning of term, 

102 ; its power, 250 
Continental Army, disbanded, 57 

Congress, 321 

Coombs, Josephine A., 423 
Cooper, James Fenimore, 334 

Thomas, 20 

S., Capt. U.S.A., 352 

Corkey, Mary A. (McCartney), 

398 

Comelis, Jannetje (Webber), 
152 

Leentie, 152 

Corneliszen, Ariaen, 152 

Dirck, 143 

Hendrik, 145, 152 

Jacob, 152 

Theunis, 152 

Cornell, Albert R., 124, 300 

James T., died, 124 

James T., II., killed in ac- 
cident, 300 

Joseph, 122, 124, 202 

Maria (Striker), 124 

Susan (Varian), 359 



Cornish, John, 376 

Cornwallis, Earl, in command, 
38; surrender, 51; at York- 
town, 56, 119 



General llnbci 



563 



Cortright, Henry, 52. Vide 

Kort right. 
Cosijnszen, Gerrit, progenitor of 

family, 306 
Cosine, Catherine, 199 

Gerrit, 30 

Rachel, 199. Vide Cozine. 

Coster, Henry A., 337 

John G., 178; sketch, 336, 

337 

Coulthard, William, 187 

Council of Appointment, 1784- 
1821, 58, 61, 320 

Country-seats. Vide Home- 
steads. 

Court of Burgomasters and 
Schepens, 115 

Haerlem, erected, 145 note 

Courtnay, Lord, 26, 417 

Coutant, Gilbert, 358 

Couwenhoven, Ann, 127 

Jacob, 127 

John, 31 

Margaret (Hassens), 127 

Neeltje (Webber), 127 

Samuel, 32 

Cox, Abraham B., 344 

Catharine M., 344 

Cornelia, 344 

Martha (Hoffman), 394 

Isaac B., 344, 345 

Cozine, Balaam Johnson, 9, 307 

Catharine, widow Balaam 

Johnson Cozine, 9 

Catharine (Harsen), 85, 

128, 129, 130, 200, 204 

Catharine, sister of John, 



308 



Catharine (Fleet), 307, 408 

— Comelis, the settler at 
Bloomingdale, 306, 307 

— Cornelius, son of Garret, 
84, 130 

— Comelus, 302 

family, 10, 304, 408, 409 

farm, 133, 366 

— Garret, 84, 128, 129, 130, 



133 



Garrit, 109, no 

Garrit, 1807, 109 

George, 1809, no 

Hannah, 84, 130 

Jane (Ackerman), 166, 

304, 306, 307 
Jane A. (Dorland), 308, 

408 



Cozine, John, 202, 204, obit., 

248, 307 
John, Mrs., 71, 217, 408; 

"Mistress," 435 

John R., Capt., 59 

Mansion, 168, 217, 407, 



408, 411 

— Margaret (Fletcher), 302 
Mary, 1807, 109 

— Nich. Dyckman, 308 

— Oliver L., Lieut., 59 

— Rachel 166, 200, 204, 304, 
306, 307; funeral, 441 

— Sarah (Hopper), 9, 307 

— Sarah, 10 
Sarah Stakes (Horn), 308, 



408 



vault, 307 



Couzyn, John, 32 
Cozeijn, Comeles, 32 

Cornelius, 32 

Cozyn, Garret, 32 

Croix, Peter, Col., 326 

Crosby, Howard, Rev. Dr., 209, 

24S> 265 
Cross Road to Harlem, the, 5, 42 
Crown Point, expedition against 

33; 51 
Crozier, Mary, 397 
Crump, Hannah, 203 

John, 203 

William B., 203 

Cudlipp, Henry A., 424 

Hannah E. (Macfarlan), 



424 



Reuben, 426 
Reuben H., 424 



Cunningham, William, 150 

Curtis, Mary A., 400 

John K., 229, 401 

Cutler, Albert E., 287 

Cutting, Francis B., 20, 21; ex- 
ecutor of Ann Rogers, 44 

William, 2 

Cuyler, Henry, Capt., 32 

Sara (Van Brugh), 331, 

386 chart 

Theodore L., Rev., 439-40 



B 



d'Auliffe, Mme., 87, chalet, 418 
Daily, Henry, Jr., 277, 279 ; died, 

286 
Dailey, Mary A.,(McGown), 317 
Dale, Hester, 403 



564 



Zhc 1Rew ^ov\{ of 13e0ter^a^ 



Dalrymple, Jane (Black), 402 

Dana, Ann Agnes (Holmes), 
XXV., 405 note, 437 

William F., 360 

Darke, Charles, Sr., 377 

Charles, 204, 213, 426 

Elizabeth, 427 

family, 376 

George, 377 

Helen M., 377 

Henry, 376 

John, 377 

John M., 377 

Maria, 376, 377 

Maria, daughter of Rich- 
ard, 376 

Mary T., 377 

Richard, 376 

Richard, Jr., 377 

Sarah (Wilson), 376 

Daughters of 1812, U. S., the, 
75; tablet, 394 

Davison, I., D.D., 381 

Day, Eliza (Ritter), 304 

Day's Tavern, 57 

Deaf and Dumb Asylum, 93, 436 

Deas, Mrs. (Nash), 443 

de Beaujolais, Prince, 88 

de Brough, Catherina (Beek- 
man), 386, chart 

de Bruyn, Johannes, 30 

de Calli^res Bonnevue, Chev- 
alier, 29 

de Courval, Vicomtesse, 88 

de Cubieres, Marquis, 87 

Deems, Charles F., Rev. Dr., 
245. 265 

"Deermont," Swords country- 
seat, 306 

de Grove, Rebecca (Albertson), 
1720, 119 

de Key (de Kay), Elizabeth, 150 

Jacob, Lieut., 30 

Jacob, tract, 43 

de Labigarre, Amaryllis L., 344 

Margaret, 344 

Delafield Estate, 387 

Doctor, 136 

del Campiglio, P. F., 394 
de Lamater, Abraham, 31 

Isaac, 31 

de Lamontanye, Isaac, 31 
de Lancey, Anne (Watts), 81 
Etienne (Stephen), 16, 81, 



96 



James, Lt.-Gov., 82 



de Lancey, John, 33 

Mansion, burned, 54 

Oliver, Brig. -Gen., 48, 82, 

96 

Peter, 82 

Susannah (Warren), 81 

tract, 81 

de Lancey's Loyalists, 48, 119 
de Lano, George W., Mrs., 264 
de la Noy, Catherine P. (Beek- 

man), 386 chart 
de Milhau, John T. G., 12 
de Montpensier, Due, 87 
Denton, Daniel, commissioner, 

347 
de Neuvilles, the, 89 
de Peyster, Abraham, 100, 

sketch, loi 
Anna (de Peyster), 386, 

chart 

Anna H. (Livingston), 336 

Catharine A., 346 

Cornelia (Livingston), 336, 



385, 386, chart 
— Cornelia B., 346 

Elizabeth (van Rensselaer) 



346 



Frederick, 18, 61, 71 

— Gerard, 67, 186, 336, 386, 
chart 

— Gerard B., 346 

— Isaac, Lieut., 32, Capt., 32 
James, Lieut., 74, mansion. 



336 



James F., Ensign, 75 

— James W., buys de Kay 
tract, 43, 336, 386, chart 

— Jane v. C., 346 

— Johannes, 100, 386, chart 
Margaret (de Peyster), 336 



386, chart 
Nicholas, 5, 25; buys van 

de Water tract, 43 ; boundary 

of farm, 48; Capt. -Lieut., 58; 

71, 186 
— William, 2d Lieut., 32; 

Ensign, 32, 345, 346, 386; 

chart 

William W., Ensign, 51 



Depier, Sara (Walles), 144 
de Prael, Arent, 342 

family, 342 

Trintje, 342. Vide Prall. 

deRahm, Henry C, 88 
de Riemer, Margaret (Selijns), 
142 



(Beneral 1In^ex 



565 



de Riemer, Margriete (Webbers), 

149, 150 

Isaac, 150 

de Rivieres, the, 89 
de Singeron, August, Col., 87 
Desobry, Benjamin, 178 
Despard, Matilda P., quoted, 

230 
de Suyers, Catalina H. (Kip), 

367 
deVoor, David, Sr., 31 

David, Jr., 31 

John, 31 

deVouw, Daniel, 357 

Elizabeth (Varian), 357 

de Witt, Rev. Dr., 438, 439 
Dey, Dirck Theunis, 325 

Dirck Jansen, sketch, 325 

Isaac, first sexton, 166, 

175. 193; discharged, 197; re- 
appointed, 200, 300, 3*^4 

Jane (Varick), 325 

Mary (Ray), 303 

Street, 325 



Deyo, J. P., 251 

Lawrence, 376 

Dick, Hannah (Macfarlan), 424 

Dickson, J. M., Rev. Dr., 264 

Diedericks, J. J., 178 

Digby, Admiral, 346 

Dillenbeck, Edward A., 280, 
282, 289 543 

Dircx, Aechtie, 127 

Divene, Margaret (Montieth), 
403 

Dixon, Courtlandt P., buys 
" Woodlawn," 47 

Dobbs, Margaret, 395 

Dodge, John V., 324 

Henry A., 324 

Henry S., 178, 324, 325 

Lieut. -Col., 72, 390 

Dodworth's Band, 93 

Dogcarts, 440 

Dongan, Gov., 108; patent, 113, 
118:348 

Dorland, Cozine, 308 

James H., 308 

Jane C, xxv., 405 

Jane C. (Franklin), 308, 

408 

d'Orleans, Due, 87 

D'Orsay, Lawrence, 293 

Douglass, Rev. Mr., school mas- 
ter, 16 
rake, family, 202 



Drake, John, 332 

Jeremiah John, 331, 332 

Drew, John, 293, note 
Drisius, Samuel, Domine, 10 1 
Duke's Bouwery, the, 325 

Laws, 1665, 113 

Dulles, Allen M., Rev., 434 

Anna S., 434 

Charles W., 434 

John W. Rev., 433; mis 

sionary, 434 

Joseph H., Rev., 434 

Perit, 434 

Winslow, 434 

William, 434 



Dunlap, George E., 251 

— superintendent, 267 

Dunn, James B., Rev., 410 
Dupont, Mary, obit., 248 
Duryea, Catharine (Quick), 400 

Mr., 197 

Duryee, Emma V., 295, 296 

Henry, 296 

Henry, Col., 296 

Henry B., 181 7, no 

John L., no 

Joseph R., Rev. Dr., 270, 



292 



Jost, 296 
William, 296 



Dusenberry, Catharine H. (Va- 
rian), 358 

-John H., 375 

^ John S., 315 

Dutch Church, in Market St., 
1810, 350 

site bequeathed in Bloom- 



ingdale, 306 
— method of election of offi- 



cers, 269 
Duyckinck, Anna (van de Wa- 
ter), 1686, 43 

Mary (Beekman), 346, 386, 

chart 
Dyckman, Abraham, 71 

Anneke (Sevenho ven) , 128 

Catherina (Cozine), 307 

Cornelia (Harsen), 84, 128 

Cornelia (Hassens), 127 

Cornelius, 31; sketch, 84, 

127, 129 

Cornelius, Jr., 129 

Elizabeth (Sprong), 84 

family, 374, 408 

farm, 12, 81, 83, 90, 128 

George, 76, 84, 86, 129 



566 



JLlK flew ©orft of IPeeterbai? 



Dyckman-Harsen Mansion, old- 
est in Harsenville, 89, 164 

Jacobtis, 67, 71 

Jacob, 31, 128 

Jacob, Jr., 31, 77 

Jannetje, (Cozine), 84, 128 

Johannes, pioneer, 84 

John, 31, 33, no 

Joseph, 51 

Mr., witness to baptism of 

St. Clair Pollock, 26 

Nicholas, 31, 128, 129, 164, 



307 



Peter B., 1836, no 

Rachel (Harsen), 84, 128 

Richard, 53, 54 

slaves, 304 

widow, the, 71 

Wyntie (Hopper), 9, 121, 

164 
Wyntie (Kortright), 84 

Earl of Dartmouth, 35 
East River, 139 
Eden Medcef, farm, 3, 320 
Edes, Joseph, 51 
Eddie, James, 395 
Edgar, Daniel M., 340 

Hannah (Morris), 340 

Herman Le Roy, 340 

Newbold, 340 

Robert, 340 

William, 178, 333, 338, 

339, 340 
Edward VII. of England. Vide 

Renfrew 
Egbert, Benjamin, Capt., 35 
Ehmer, Catherine (Pfening), 404 
Eigenbrodt's, Dr., school, 384 
Eighth Avenue, cars, 95; 227, 

302, 333 
Eighty-second Street Public 

School, 388 
Elberts, Willemtie, 152 
Elevated Railroad, refused per- 
mission to build on Boulevard, 

278; 427 
Eleventh Regiment, 1812, offers 

its services, 64 
Elizabethtown Point, 120 
Elkin, John, landlord, 108 
Elm Park, 15, 17 
"Elmwood," 14, vide Apthorp 
Elmendorf, Rev. Dr., 282 



Ellesse, Hendrik, 151 
Ellis, Elias, 152 
Samuel, 400 

Sara, 400 

Ellis's Island, 64 

Ellison, Eleanor, Miss, 175 

Elson, Bastiaen, 145 

Elswood, Jannetje (Minthorn), 

149 
Ely's Misses, school, 17 
Emmet Elizabeth (LeRoy), 

335 

Jane, 335 

JaneE. (McEvers), 335 

John P., M.D., 335 

Margaret, 335 

Mary A., (Graves), 335 

Robert, 335 

Thomas Addis, 178; sketch 

334; 1845. 377 
William C, 335 



Emmons, Amasa G., 394 

Catherine (Carss), 367 

Edward A., 373 

Horatio, 373 

Maria, 373 

Mary C, 373, 399 

Thomas J., 197, 213, 214, 

224, 234, 241, 266, 367, 372 
William T., 373 



English, Thomas D., 13 

Revolution, the, of 1688, 

28 
Ericsson, 11 
Erie Canal, 324 

Railroad, 309 

Esopus, 255 

Evacuation Day, parade, 1S14, 

390 

Evertse & Benckes, Dutch Com- 
manders, 1673, 117 

Eyer, William I., 372 



3f 



Fairchild, E. S., Rev., 245 
Fake, family, 364. - Vide Feake. 

(Romeyn) Margaret, 

(Quackenbush) , 363, 364 
Margaret (Wright), 423 



Falken, Letitia, 397 

Fancher, Martha (Schuyler), 355 

Farmer's Bank, Amsterdam, N. 

Y.. 355 
Farr, Mary (van Aken), 374 



(5eneral 1ln^ex 



567 



Favorite, the, British sloop-of- 

war, 76 
Fawsitt, Caroline C, 45 
Fay, Joseph D., Lieut. -Col., 391 
Fayerweather Hall, tablet on, 75 
Feake, James, 364 

Henry, 364 

Robert, 364 

Tobias, 364 

Federal Hall, 4 

Feitner, Elizabeth (Ackerman), 

376 

Elsey, 376 

Catherine, 375 

Catherine A., 376 

Charles, 375 

Daniel, 376; Mrs., 199 

Francis, 2, 375 

Francis J., 376 

George, 376 

Hannah, 376 

Hannah (Cornish), 376 

Mary C. (Deyo), 376 

Peter, 375 

Feitner's Lane, 375 

Felix, Francis J., 417; described, 

418 

Josephine, 418 

Female Cent Society, the, of 

Bloomingdale Church, 198 
Fennaly, Dorothy (Webber), 

152 
Ferguson, Mary E., 203 
Ferris, Benjamin, 316, 341 

Eliza A. L., 316 

Henry Post, 316 

Jonathan, 316 

Rev. Dr., 439 

Festgen, Maria D. (Graser), 402 
Field, Benjamin, Mrs., 23 

Moses, 322 

Mr., 202 

Fifth Avenue, opened 1837, 6; 

316 

Hotel, 6, 93, 312 

Presbyterian Church, 410 

Finlay, Fannie, 399 

Thomas M., mansion, 24 

Findley, George, 363 
Firemen's Insurance Company, 

137 
First Presbyterian Church, Chil- 

licothe, O., 283 ; greeting from 

286-7 
Fish, Abraham K., 344 
Catharine B., 345 



Fish, Jonathan, 328 

Nicholas, Col., 52; chair- 
man committee of Defence, 
63; alderman, 67, 73; 178; 
death of, 334; sketch, 328 

Fishburn, W. H. Rev., 287 

Fisher family, 382, 422 

house 382, description of 

and grounds, 423 

Joseph Henry, 422 

Fishkill, 368 ' 

Fitch, Ackerly, 212 

Clyde, 297 

Echley, 396 

Five Dutch Towns, the, 302 

Five Points Mission, 439 

Flatbush (Midwout), 126, 323, 
324 

Fleet, Samuel, 307 

Sara, 400, 437 

Fleetner, William, 402 
Fletcher, Lattice (Hegeman) , 302 
Nicholas, 302 

Flick, Anna, 403 

Jacob, 236, 403, 404 

Floyd, Alma (Post) ,317 
Fonteijn, Jacques, 144 
Foote, Samuel C, Judge, 306 
Ford, Margaret (Webbers), 154 

Philip, 1807, 154 

Fordham, 359 

Fordyce & Himpler, 273 
Forfeiture, Commissioners of, 11 
Forman, A., 178 
Forsyth (late Second) Street, 

195; Dutch Church burial 

ground on, 196 
Fort Amsterdam, 354 
Clinton, 73, marked by 

tablet, 76 

Fish, 73 

Greene, 64, 73 

Horn, marked by tablet, 



76 



76 



Laight, 72, 73, 74, tablet, 

Lee, N. J., 120, 121 

Orange (Albany), 142, 354, 

Sumter, 442 

Washington, 317 

Foster & Thomson, xxv. 

Foulke, Joseph, 345 

"Fourteen Miles Around, the," 

58 
Fox, Maria E. (Ritter), 129 
Fractional currency, issued, 62 



568 



^be IRew ^ov\{ of ^CQtcvM^ 



Fraligh, Sol., Rev., 164 
Francis, Joseph, landlord at 

Striker's Bay, 13 
Franklin, Benjamin, 310 

Bros. 46 

House, 58 

Maria B. (Osgood), 321 

Square, who named for, 



321 



Walter, 321 



Franks, Phila (de Lancey), 96 
Fraser, Ann (Robertson), 400 

Elspet (Eddie), 395 

Fraunces' Tavern, 57 
Frederick, Henrietta Q. (Rey- 
nolds), 402 

William, 402 

Fredericks, Aaltje (Stille), 363 
Fredericktown, Md., 173 
Freeman, Alice (Stout), 431 

Amos, obit., 248 

Emma, 431 

John, 202, 398, 431 

Mary, 431 

French Colony, 87, 417 

& Indian War, 1754, 33 

Huguenot Church, 378 

Philip, 331 

Susanna (Livingston), 331 

Friends, Soc. of, established in 

New York, 1657, 546 
Frink, I. P.,264 
Frohman, Charles, 293, note 

Daniel, 293, note 

Frothingham, David, 340 

Sara (McKay), 340 

Fruitnight, William, 404 
Fuller, Edward, 295 
FuUerton, A. L., 287 
Fulmer, Maria (Varian), 359 
Fulton Street Reformed Church, 



410 



Robert, 417 



Furniss, William P., 20 







Gailliard, J. B. D. & Son, florists, 

411 
Gallaudet, Rev. Dr., 344 
Gamage, John, M.D., 177 
Gano, John, 173 
Garden Street Church, 172 
Gardner, J. H. Rev. Dr., 243 
Thomas, 187 



Garret, Eliza Jane, 397 
Gas lighted first in Blooming- 
dale, 1857, 431 
Gassner, Daniel, 70, 365 

Elizabeth C, 366 

Isabella B. (Weyman), 366 

Jane E. (Tompkins), 365 

John A., 365 

John W., 365 

Lane, 365 ; place, 366 

Matthew, 366 

Peter, 366 

Susan C., 365 

Sarah J. (van Buskirk), 

365 
Gates, Genl., 121 
Gedney, Capt. (Gedney-Harsen 

duel), 65 
Geier, Barbary (Flick) 404 
Genet, Edmond Charles, the 

French minister, 320 
Gerard, James W., loi 
German Society, 383 
Germantown, battle of, 50, 120 
Gerretse, Wolfert, 126 
Gibbes, Thomas S., 332 
Gibson, Mary F. (Curtis), 401 
Gilbert, George Henry, Mrs., 

memorial, 293; unveiled, 296 
Gilbertson, Henry, 403 
Gildersleeve, Charles E., 270 
Gilman, Daniel, Prof., 435 

Emily S., 435 

Edward, Rev., 435 

— — - Harriet (Lane), 434 

William, 435 

Glen Cove, 1756, 118 

Goad, Mary E. (Beekman), 345 

Goderius, Maria (Cunningham), 

150 
Goerck, CasimerT., 43 
Gold Street, meeting house, 172, 

173 

Golden Hill, battle of, 318 

Gomez, Esther, 155 

Goodhue, Jonathan, country- 
seat, 378 

& Co., 378 

Goodwin, John, 177 

Gordon, Joanna (Carss), 367 

Gould, Georg-e J., Mrs., 293 

Goulding, William J., 277, 282 

Governor's Garden, the, 108 

Guards, 68 

Grace Dutch Reformed Church, 
374 



General Unbei 



569 



Gracie, Archibald, 184, 186; 

sketch, 338; country-seat, 338 

& Sons, 338 

Sarah Rogers (King), 338 

Graham, Hugh, Capt., 396 

Leo, obit., 248 

"Grange, the," 341 

Grant, John, Capt., 33 

Gen'l, Tomb in Riverside 

Park, 40; dedication parade 

278; 317 
Graser, Augustus C, 402 
Graves, Edward A. B., 335 

opening of, prohibited, 203 

Gravesend, L. I., 117, 118 
Gray, William, Salem, Mass., 60 
Great Kill, the, (" Grotekel "), 7 ; 

farm, 7, 148; district, 10, 335; 

312 
Greatorex, Eliza, Mrs., 138, 418 
Greeley, 393 
Green, Cornelia L. (Pyatt), 295 

Hill Cemetery, 301 

John, 295 

Mountain Boys, 51 

Greene, Gen'l, 39 
Greenwich Savings Bank, 137 

Street, 309, 310 

Village, xxiii., 90, 161 

Greenwood Cemetery, 124, 313, 

356 
Griffen, "Pop," landlord Bloom- 

ingdale Tavern, 95, 415 
Guest, Elizabeth (Hopper), no 
Gulick, Eliza W. (van Aken), 

373. 444 

Gunn, Alexander, Rev. Dr., no; 
first minister, 162; 174, 176, 
180, 182, 187, 188, 190, 195, 
196, 199; died, 204; obit., 205 ; 
tablet, 206; vault, 232, 257, 
293; stories of, 408, 409; 428, 
429; originator N. Y. Univer- 
sity, 162 

family, 233 

John Asten, 205 

Sarah, 163, 206, 207 

lb 

Haarlem, Holland, i, 336 
Hackensack, N. J., 323, 386 
Haight, Edward W. L., Col., 343 
Halden, Isabella (Nish), 396 

Jane, 400 

John, 396 



Halden, Marion S. (Winch), 404 

Mary, 396 

Samuel, 403 

Hall, Edward Hagaman, quoted 

76 

John, Rev. Dr., 410 

Thomas, 143 

William M., Jr., 308 

Halsted, Jacob, 253, 309 
Halleck, Fitz-Greene, 83 
Hallock, Lewis, M.D.,'323 
Hamersley, Forge, 11. Vide 

Ward, Lebbeus B. 
Hamilton, Alexander, Hon., 

Capt., 53; 178, 327, 341 

Burr duel, 321 

Eliza (Schuyler), 90, 419 

Isabella, 199, 362 

John C, 327, 332 

Square, 82; monument at, 

99 
Hampden Hall, 108 
Hanaway, Amelia, 388 

■ Elizabeth, 387 

— — - Emily S. (Stryker), sketch, 

388; 437. 442 

George, 387 

house, location of, 407; 

description of, 427; marriage 

at, 430 

James, 387 

James, brother of George, 

387 



Jane, 387 

— Jonas, 228, 229, 387 

— Joseph, 387 

— Margaret, 387 

— Maria (Bawden), 387 

— Mary A. (Tyler), 388 

— Samuel, 238, 240, 241, 242, 
245, 248, 251, 387 

— Sarah (Magrath), 387 
Sarah (Bremer), 387 



Hance, Revo C. & Co., 11: 
Handy, W. C, Rev., 243 
Hanover Square, 346 
Hanson, Jan, 116 
Hardenbrook, Abel, Lieut. 

Johannes, Lieut., 30 

Margaret (Somerindyck) , 

171 



349 



32 



Theophilus, 374 

William, 109 

— William A., 67, 71 ; donates 

fiagstaffs, 73; 171, 174. i7S. 

179, 186, 310, 374 



570 



^be IRew l?ork of l^eeterbap 



Hardenbrook's, tour by, 58 
Harding, John, 402 
Hardman, Aaron, 1809, 154 

Christian, 3 1 

Elizabeth, 1816, 154 

family, 10 

Henry, 1811, 154 

Johannes, 30 

Jonathan, 31, 67, 149, 153, 

154, 155. 166 

Jonathan, Jr., 1814, 154 

Lawrence H., 1806, 154 



Harlem, xxiii, 4,58; town officers 
of, 326 

Commons, 43, 68 

Creek, "The Canal," 78 

Heights, 67; first work at 

68; works at, 76; battle of, 27, 
37,40,41, 55, 326, 362 
Lane (St. Nicholas Ave.), 



43 
Harmer, Gen'l, campaign, 9 
Harison, Richard, 178, 188 
Harriot, Mary (Freeman), 398 

Warren, 372 

Harris, Dwight, M.D., 134 

Sarah Maria (Striker), 122 

narrower, C. S., Rev. Dr., 265 
Harsen, Aletta (Varian), 357 
Ann, 1 76 1, 128 

Catharine (Purdy), 308 

Cornelia, 1753, 128 

Cornelia R. (Rhoades), 308 

Cornelius, 1755, 128 

Cornelius, Col., 61, 64, 65, 

66; 1783, 129, 130, 132, 133; 
treasurer of school fund, 177; 
184, 186, 308; sketch 309 

Cradle, 129; family, 126, 

233, 408; farm, 130; fund, 136 

Garish (Garret ?) , 3 5 

Garret, 1775, 129 

Gert, Sergeant, 32 

George, Lieut., 34; Adj. of 

Levies, 35; 53 

homestead (mansion), 12, 

132; description of, 138; 210, 
211, 406, 415, 431 

Jacob, for whom Harsen- 

ville was named, 84, 85, 128 

Jacob, Ensign, 58; 71, 85; 

biography and genealogy, 
126; 1750, 128, 129; biogra- 
phy, 130; 157, 159, 169, 176, 
186, 188, 198, 199, 204, 208, 
211; benefactor of Blooming- 



dale Church, 212; 217, 224, 
225; heirs objected to sale, 
243; 252, tribute 235; 260, 
261, 262 ; tablet, 268 ; 298, 315, 
343. 360, 362, 385, 406; anec- 
dotes, 409; 429, monument, 
438 
— Jacob, son of above, 1788, 



129 



Jacob, M.D., son of Col. 
Cornelius, 131, 132; biog- 
raphy, 133; founds prize, 135; 
marble bust of, 137; 308 

— Joanna H. (Prall), 308, 343 
Johannes, 84, 128 

John, 31, 84; 1779, 129 

John, P. R., 133, 308 

— Magdalen (Halsted), 308 
Magdalen R., 308 

— Maria Elizabeth (Halsted) , 



309 



Mary, 1759, 128 

Nicholas, 1751, 128 

Rachel, 1774, 129 

Harsen-Gedney duel, 64 

Harsen ville, 10, 12, 56; chapter 
on, 81; last view of , 138; 160; 
sickness in, 215, 216; 222, 224, 
226, 374, 405, 406, 411; 1845, 
415; church at, 85; church- 
yard at, 351; dock, 187 

Post-office, 98 

Road (lane), 5, 85, 95, 138, 

i6s> 309. 387. 406, 407, 415. 
416, 428 

Smithy, 417 



Harsse (Harsen), Tanneke (Min- 

thorne), 149 
Harvard College ,321,322 
Harvey, Capt., 427 
Hasbrouck, Garret D., 311 

Louis, M.D., 311 

Haskins, William E., 397 
Hassens (Harsen), Aaltje, 1705, 

127 

(Haszingh) Bernardus, 126 

Bernardus, 1702, 127 

Corneliis, 17 12, 127 

Elizabeth, 1707, 127 

Gerrit, 1717, 127 

Gertruijdt (Webber), 126 

Gerret, 1707, 127 

Heijltje (Helena), 1677, 



127 



Hester, 1674, 127 
Jacob, 1716, 127 



(Bcneral llnbei 



571 



Hassens, Jacob, 1672, 127 

Johannes, 1678, 127 

Johannes, 1709, 127 

Johannes, 17 14, 127 

Lijsbeth, 1685, 127 

Margaret, 1743, 127 

Pieter, 1679, 127 

Tanneke, 127 

Warnardus, 1670, 126 

Hassing, Bernardiis, 144 

Geertie, 152 

Hassingh, Geertje, 144 
Haveraeyer, Catherine, 372 

Catherine E. (Harriot), 372 

Charlotte (Eyer), 372 

Charles H., 372 

Diederick M., 372 

Edward A., 372 

Frederick C., 204, 371 

Frederick C, Jr., 372 

George L., 372 

Henry O., 371 

Mansion, 10, 11, 411 

Mary R. (Northrop), 372 

Susanna W. (Senft), 372 

William, 371, 372 

& Elder, 372 

William & F. C, 371 

Townsend & Co., 372 

Havens, Gabriel, 61 

Hawes, Gilbert Ray, 290, 292, 

294, 318 
Peter, 67; sketch, 317, 318; 

anecdote, 319, 320 
Hayden, Temperance R. 

(Darke), 377 
Hays, Nicholas, 401 
Heath, Experience (Lyon), 399 
Heddy, Anne (Post), 320 
Heerman, Augustyn, 143 
Hegeman, Adriaen, 116; sketch, 

302 



Alida (Prall), 342 

— Cynthia (Jackson), 302; 
died, 303 

family, 10, 302 

— Frances B., 303 

— Jane F. (Ross), 303 

— John, 178, 303 

— John A., 303 

— Laura N., 302 

Letitia (Palmer), 303 

Margaret (Horn), 303, 312 

Martha (Hegeman), 303 

— Nic. T., 395 

— Peter, 187, 302 



Hegeman, Peter A., 302 
Heiser family, 63 
Hell-gate, 146, 341 
Henderson, Mr., 204 
Hendricks, Gertje, 8 

Harman, 61 

Hendricx, Marretje (Stille), 150 
Herald Building, the, 107 
Hermance, Brig.-Gen'l, 69 
"Hermitage, the," 7,36 
Hessians, 56, 362 
Hebrew faith planted in New 

York, 1654, 546 
Hey, Jacob, Capt., 141 
Heyward, Ann M., 20 
Nicholas C, executor of 

Ann Rogers, 44 

Sarah, 20, 47 

William, 20, 47 



Hicks, Samuel & Sons, 352 
Hildreth, P. G., 178 
Hippodrome, Franconi's, 6 
Hoagland, Catherine W., 1848, 



Henry V., no 
William H., 1847, no 



Hobart, John Henry, Rev., 21 
Hoffman family, 202 

Martha, 164 

D. P., 241 

Lawrence, 394 

Nicholas, 90 

Sarah, 90 

Hogan, Michael, 2 1 ; built ' ' Clare- 

mont," 26 
Hogeland, Adriaen, 32. Vide 

Hooglandt. 
Holden, William, 204 
Hole, Henry, 401 

Phoebe, 401 

HoUoway, Isabella, 1795, 109 

John, 109 

John, 1808, 109 

"Hollow Way, the," 38, 39, 40 
Holly, Mrs. 23 

Holmes, Ann Agnes (Dana), 360 
Augusta M., (Brooks) 360, 



416 



Charles D., 360 
Deborah, 361 
Eldridge, 360, 361 
Elizabeth (Darke), 361, 



377 



family, 202 
George, 361 
George W., 360 



572 ^be McMo 13ork of l?e0terbap 



Holmes, Hamilton B., 373 

Hannah S. (Howard), 360 

Jane, 361 

Kate (Kelly), 361 

Mary E., 360 

Nathan, 53 

Nathaniel, 360, 428 

Nathaniel W., 360 

Rebecca, 360, 428 

Rebecca (Conkling), 428 

Sarah M., 360 

Stanley, 32 

William, 71, 204, 214, 361, 

416, 428 

William B., 167, 169, 359, 

361, 377, 428 

William, Jr., 427, 428 

Mrs., 437 

Homesteads and Country-seats: 

"Abbey, The," 24, 44, 45, 

46, 98 

Ackerman, 366 

Apthorp, 41, 55 

Arkenburgh, 82 

Barker, 83 

Bayles, 381 

Beekman, 24, 74, 345 

Benson, 77, 78 



Borrowe, 335 
Broome, 419 
Buckley, 24 
Chaudlet, 417 
"Chevilly, " 87 
"Claremont," 26, 



39, 45. 



417 



77 



341 



Clarkson, 19 

Clendining, 336 

Cozine, 302, 307, 308, 408 

Cudlipp, 424 

Darke, 426, 427 

d'Auliffe, 418 

de Lancey, 54 

de Peyster, 336 

Dyckman, 84 

Dyckman (McGown's Pass) 

"Edge Hill," 24 

"Elm wood, " 14 

Finlay, 24 

Fisher, 422, 423 

Furniss, 20 

Gassner, 423 

Hamilton, "The Grange," 

[ 

Hanaway, 407, 427 



Homesteads and Country-seats : 

Harsen, 12, 85, 429 

Harsen, Cornelius, 309 

Havemeyer, 371, 372, 411 

Hegeman, 302 

"Hermitage, The," 36 

Holmes, 360, 428 

Hooglandt, 48 

Hoppe, 8, loi 

Hopper, 105, 106 

Jackson, 22 

Jones, Humphrey, 20, 44 

Jones, Nicholas, "Wood- 
lawn, " 23, 38, 46, 47 

Jumel, 41, 89 

Kelly, 361, 422 

Kortright, 38 

Lawrence, R. R., 91 

Lawrence, S. A., 92, 377 

Lee, SS3 

Leggett, 426 

Livingston, 385 

Livingston, B., 

Villa," 17 

"Locust Grove," 12 

Lozier, 90 

Mali, 24 

McGown, 77 

McGown, S. B., 78 

Meier, " Willow Bank, ' 



Oak 



382 



24, 



"Monte Alta, " 74 

Morris, 38, 41, 325 

Mott, Dr., 18 

Mott, J. C, 17, 340 

"Mott's Point, 9, 350 

"Mount Aubrey," 18 

Murray, 37 

— Nash, 10, 12, 82, 443 

— Nutter, 73 

— Park, 83 

Perit, 92, 420 

Post, Anthony, 320 

Post, Henry, 314 

Prime, 341 

— Rogers, 20, 44 

— Samler, 187 

— Schieffelin, 18, 341 
— ■ Somerindyck, 92 

— Somerindyck, Teunis, 56, 
88, 361, 382, 422 

— Striker, "Rosevale," 232, 
392 

— Striker's Bay, 55, 119 
- — Talman, 82 
— Thorn, 83 



(3cncral Unbei 



573 



Homesteads and Country-seats; 
(Continued) 

van den Heuvel, i6, 95, 426 

Varian, 357,359 

Varian, "Knickerbocker 

Cottage" 359 

Webbers, 153, 155 

Weir, 427 

Weyman, 18 

Whitlock, 24 

Wood, 425 

Hooglandt, Adriaen, the house 
of, 5,31; removes to N . Y. , 43 ; 
murdered; 43 48 

Benjamin, 43 

Comelis Dircksen, of Brook- 
lyn, 43 

farm, 25, 38, 39 

^Jeronimus, Capt., 53 

^Johannes, father of Adriaen 



43 



-Johannes, son of above, re- 
moves to N. Y., 43 

William, 43 

Hooglandts, the, of Blooming- 
dale, descent of, 43 

Hooper, B. Frank, 277 

Hoorn (Horn) John, 152, 312 

Hoorn's Hoek, fortifications at, 
38. 338 

Hopewell, M. C, 287 

Hopkins, John T., 395 

Sarah, 395 

Hoppe, Hoppen Andries, 8, 102, 
103 

Christiaen, 103 

Johannes, 151 

Matthijs Adolphus, 7, 8, 104 

Hopper, Andrew, 7, 9, 31, 71, 
85 ; biography and genealogy, 
102, 104; epitaph, 112; 121, 
122, 125, 128, 131, 157, 159, 
160, 168, 176, 184, 186; 
deceased, 198, funeral, 202; 
298, 341, 358; scholar 1811, 
no; country-seat, 98, 105, 
106, city residence, 107, 108; 
wife, 204 

Anne (Harsen), 128 

burial plot, 9, 105, in, 

121, 164, 307> 358 

Elizabeth (Guest) ,111 

family, 304, 408; other 

families of the name, 103 

farm, 8, 104,^ 148, 306, 



3Si> 377J 



Hopper, Garret, no 

Jacomiintie (Jemima), 10 

Jasper, Capt., 59; sketch, 



105 



Jemima (Horn), 104, 2( 



312 



Joachem, Dr., 102 

— Johannes, son of Andrew, 

105 

— John, the elder, 8, 9, 104, 
107, 125; payment by British 
for trees cut, 50 

— John, the younger, 9, 31; 
enlists, 49, 50; 71, 104, 121, 
122, 164, 184, 186; slaves, 304, 

307. 392 

— Martha, 1792, 109 

— Mary (DusenlDerry) , 106 

— Mary (Striker), 9, 121 
Matthew, house of, 7, 9, 



104; 1791, 109, 148, 306 

— Rachel (Newcomb), 106 

— Richard, 32 
Wessell, 104, 128 



Hopper, William, 32 

Yallis, 104 

Hopper's Lane, 5, 8, 9, 10, 104, 

105, 164, 350 
Horn, Arnout, 31 

family, 408 

Hannah, 78 

Jacob, 31, 178 

Jacomijntje (Hopper), 

1771, 122, 164 

James, Ensign, 74 

Jemima, 313 

Johannes, tract, 122 

John, the house of, 5, 6; 

1763. 33' 74, 78, 104, 164. 

298; sergeant, 30 

John, Jr., house, 10, 168; 



164, 186, 198, 199, 204, 377 

— John, son of Matthew, 313 

— Joseph, Major, works at 
Bloomingdale erected under 
74,76 

— Letire F. (Young), 313 

— Margaret (Mildeberger), 6, 



313 



Mary (Striker), 122; sketch 
298; obit., 299 301 

— Mathew, 312; children, 313 

— Matthew, son of above. 



3-^3, 315 

— Peter A., 308 

— Peter A. H., 313 



574 



Zhc IRew IJorft of IJesterba^ 



Horn, Sarah J., 408 (Sutton- 
Wells), 308 

tract, present center of 

city, 6, 122, 312, 357 

Horn's tour, 58 

Hosack, Alexander E., M.D., 70, 
351 

David, M.D., 321 

Hotel Astor, 3 

House of Mercy , 17,388 

Refuge, 231 

Houston, Joseph, 178 

Howard, Charles H., 360 

Elizabeth T., 360 

Ellen A., 360 

Kindred, 360 

Howe, Sir William, 37, 96 

Howell, Daniel, M.D., 275, 276 

Howland, Gardiner Greene, 338 

John, 61 

John H., 16 

William H., 18 

& Coit, 377 

Hoyt, Harriet, 396 

Josiah, 396; son died, 438 

Huddart, R. Townsend, Rev., 
93; school, 209; burned, 416; 
432 

Hudson, N. Y., 310 

Hudson River, xxiv., i ; railroad, 
14, 420 

Hughes, James M., Col., 129 

Letitia, 154, 155 

Mary, 154 

S. Eva, school, 307 

Hulet, Jane (Mott), 347 

Humphrey, Ann (Pimley), 442 

Mr., 196 

Hunt, Charles H., 386 

Wilson G., 431 

Hunter, Robert, Gov., 30 

Hutchinson, Catherine (Wilson), 

395 
Hutton, Rev. Dr., 356, 393 

A. J., Rev., 259 

Huybrechts, Ytie (Strijcker), 

115 



Idens, Rebecca, 145 
Ilsley, William, 397 
Important events of 1833-4, 333 
Index to Baptisms, 530 

marriages, 521 

Indians, 140, 141 



Ingoldesby, Richard, Lt.-Gov., 

30 
Ingraham, Daniel P., Justice, 

224 
Institution for the Blind, 4, 344, 

351 
Irving, Washington, quoted, i, 

79. 145 



Jackson, Aaron B., 204 

Abram W., 45 

Andrew, Gen'l, 334, 343 

Anna M., 198, 200 

Cynthia, 303 

David S., 23 

John P., Rev., 78, 207 

Letitia, 302 

Margaret, 303 

Mary A., 395 

Mary J., 302 

Peter A. H., 303 

Jacobs, Balitje (Cosijnszen), 306 

Classje, 149 

Grietje (Stille), 148 

Janeway, George, 178 

Jans (Jonas), Anneke, 142, 386, 

chart 

Marritje, 143 

Jansen, Catrina R. (van Brugh), 

386, chart 
Geertje, alias Langendyck 

(Dey), 325 

Thijmes, 143 

Trijn, first mid- wife, 143 



Japanese Embassy, reception to, 

380 
Jardine, Edward G., 259 

George & Son, 251 

Jarvis, Algernon S., 11 
Jasper, Emma A., 385 

George W., 385 

Harriet A., 385 

John XXV., 214, 385, 414, 

415 

John, son of John, 385 

Joseph R., 385 

Maria, 385 

Robert T., 385 

Theodore A., 385 

William H., 385 

Jauncey, Jane M., 15 

William, 15, 178, 194, 333, 

334 
Jay, Gov., 105 



(Beneral Unbex 



575 



Jay, Peter Augustus, 340 
Jeremiah, Thomas, Hon., 440 
Jersey City, a founder of, 324 
Jochemsen, David, 141 
Johnson's N. Y. Rangers, 54 
Johnston, Henry P., Prof., 41, 

46 

Mary (Adams), 422, 423 

Jones, Ann, 1807, 109 

Ann, 399 

David S., 178 

Edward, landlord of 

" Claremont," 45 
— — family, 44 

Humphrey, 19; "Mansion 



House," 20; Ensign, 32, 44; 

"The Abbey," 46, 47; land of, 

118 

Isaac, 21, 61, 67 

John, 20, 46 

Mary, 109 

— Nicholas, 20; farmhouse, 

38; engagement ended at, 40; 

location of, 46, 47 

Thomas, father of Hum- 



phrey, 48 
Jones's Wood, 70 
Jordan, Laurence P., 358 
Jorise, Hendrick, 116 
Judah, Naphtali, 178 
Jumel bell, 325 

Franfois, 326 

Mansion, 41 

Mme., 89, 325; at Bloom- 

ingdale Church, 327 
Stephen, 70; residence, 89; 

181, 325; sketch, 326 
Justices, special, appointed 1812, 

315. 316 

•R 

Kearny, Archibald K., 373 

Elizabeth J. (van Aken), 



373 



James, Capt., 373 
John W., 373 



Keets, Michael, 151 
Kelby, Robert H., xxv. 
Kelley, Laura (Laurence), 311 

Michael, 311 

Kellow, Elizabeth, 203 

Joseph, 203 

Philip K., 203 

Kelly, Annie, 400 

Barbara (Leggett), 375 

Catherine (Feitner), 375 



Kelly, Catherine, 375 

Charles, 375 

family, 361, 422 

Henry, 362; house, 361, 

362; wife, 437 

Jane, 400 

Margaret (Hanaway), 387 

Mary (Child), 375, 437 

William, 222, 361 



Kelsey, Albert W., Mrs., 293 
Kemble, family, 44 

Robert T., 20, 21 

Kent, James, 307 

James, Chief Justice, 329 

Sarah (Cozine), 307 

Sarah, 199 

Kerr, Hannah (Odell), 396 

Tom, 426 

Kervan, Mrs., variety store, 426 
Ketchum, Isaac S., Rev., 206 
Keteltas, Catharine (Livingston) 

331 

Jane (Beekman), 346 

Kidd, Capt., 146 

Kieft, Gov., 78 

Kiersen, Jan, 326 

Kierstede, Elizabeth (Living- 
ston), 386, chart 

Kinderhook, 210, 256 

King, James G., 338 

William, 184 

& Hoogland, 170 

Kingsbridge, 58; road, xxv., 7, 

341 
King's College, library pillaged, 

56 
Kingsland, Hester (Schuyler) , 

314 

Isaac, 314 

Kingston (N. Y.) Academy, 255 

Kinkade, Robert, 202, 395 

Kip, Abraham, 127 

Francis M., Rev., 2d min- 
ister, 207, 208, 209, 210, 257, 
293.350.359; descent, 367; 
sketch, 368, 377 

Garret, 36 

Isaac, 367; sketch, 368 

Isaac L., 166, 367, 368 

Jacobus, Lieut., 30, 367 

John, 31 

Leonard, 367 

Matthew, 52 

Moses, 52 

Peter, 53 

Sarah (Harsen), 127 



576 



Zhc 1Rew l?orft of l^eeterbai? 



Kip's Bay, affair at, 37; 429 
Kirschbaum, Catharine A. (Rob- 
inson), 404 
Kittredge, Abbott E., D.D., 292 
Knell, Christiana (Lawrence), 
312 

Peter, 312 

Knickerbocker Bank, 353 

cottage, 359 

Magazine, started, 333 

Theatre, Gilbert benefit, 

293 
Kniffen, Susan (Williams), 395 
Knight, Hannah, obit., 248 

James R., obit., 248 

Knowlton, Thomas, Col., 38; 

killed, 40; commended, 41 

and Leitch, tablet, 41 

Knox, Gen'l, 57 

John, D.D., 91, 373 

Kolch, the (Collect Pond), 139, 

346 
KoUock, Rev. Dr., of Princeton, 

162 
Kortright, Aaron, 31 
Cornelius J., the pioneer, 

43 



Daniel, 1806, 109 

— Daniel W., 109 

— Elizabeth, m. Pres. Mon- 
roe, 44 

Ellen, 1807, log 

— house, 38; property, 43 

— Johannes, 84 

John, Capt., 331 

Lawrence, 43, 54 

— Lawrence C, 43 

— Lawrence, Jr., 54 

— Margaret W., 109 
Nicholas, 1803, 109 

Silvester, 52 



Kossuth, at " Rosevale," 393 
Kreider, Frederick, 403 
Kruger, George W., 383 
Kunze, John C, D.D., 382, 383; 
wife, 382 

Eliza C. (Meier), 199 

Kwakenbos, Dievertje, 151 
Kyle, Helen (Gassner), 365 

Matthew, 365, 366 

William, 366 

X 

Labagh, John J., alderman, 209 
William, Rev., 209, 377 



La Farge, John, 297 
Lafayette, 330, 393, 417 
Laffra, William, 149 
Lake George, battle of, 33 
Laight, Edward W., Col., 72 
La Maetere, Cornelia, 151 
Lamb, Mrs., buried, 438 

J. & R., 407 

Joseph, 407 

Robert, 407 

"Landtdag," the Great, 1664, 

347 
Lane, George W., 435 

Mrs., her recollections, 435 

Lant, J. H., 275 
Laroexs, Charles, Capt., 32 
Lasher, John, Col., 34, 35 
Latham, Stanton, 1791, 109 
Law, David, 212, 396; house, 

407 

Elizabeth, 396 

Grace, 396 

Keziah, 396 

Lawrence, Andrew, Lieut., 52 

Augustine H., 62 

Augustine H. & Co., 310 

Benjamin, 52 

Catherine R., 312 

Charles D., 311 

Cornelius R., first elected 

mayor, 334 

David, 310 

Edward V., 312 

Eugene 311; sketch, 312 

Ferdinand, 312 

George S., 52 

Henry, 311 

Horace, 311 

Isaac, 51 

Jacob, 51, 52 

Jonathan, 386 

John, Lieut., 52; 53, 310, 



347 



John R., 312 
John R., II, 312 
Joseph, 310 
Julia (Hasbrouck), 311 
Julia (Smith), 397 
Lane, 365 
Lawrence, 163, 394 
Margaret, no 
Maria V., 311 
Matthew, 51 
Newbold, 224 
Obadiah, 118 
Richard, 53 



(Beneral Unbex 



577 



Lawrence, Richard R. country- 
seat, 91 

Samuel A., Capt., 59; sub- 
scriber to Second Church, 7 1 ; 
country-seat, 92; 169, 171, 
176, 186, 187, 192, 309; 
sketch, 310; names of children, 
311; 312, 315; property, 365; 
377; wife, death of, 415; 431 

Uriah, 53 

William, 310 

William, Jr., 53 



Laycock, Eliza T. (Amerman), 

399 
Lazardere, Madelaine, 326 
Leads, removed from Bloom- 

ingdale windows, 36 
Leake, John, 7 
and Watts, Orphan Home, 

7, 25 
Lee, Gideon, Mayor, 197, 333 

Hannah, 178 

Leggett, Abraham, pensioner, 

54 

Abraham, Lieut., S3, 54 

Barbara A., daughter of 

Isaac, 375 

family, 375 

Henrietta, 375 

Isaac, 54, 15s, 204, 375 ; 



wife, 200 

— Jane, 375 

— John W., 375 

Kelly, 375 

Lane, 375 

Mary A., 375 

— Sarah (Dusenberry), 375 

— Tamar (Varian), 357, 359 

— Tamar V. (Wilmott), 375 
William, 426 

William V., 375 



Leiper, Ann (Bremner), 397 

Leisler, Jacob, 323, 324 

Leitch, Andrew, Major, 39; 

killed, 40, 41 
Lenox, Aletha L. (Donaldson), 

316 

Eliza L. (Maitland), 316 

Henrietta A., 316 

Isabella H. (Banks), 316 

James, 316, 381 

Jenet, 316 

Mary L. (Sheafe), 316 

Rachel, 316 

Rachel C, (Kennedy) 316 

Robert, 316 

37 



Lent, Rijk, 151 

Le Roy, Jacob, 54, 71, 84 

William H., 335 

L'Escuier, Marie (Sevenhoven), 

1693, 128 
Leslie Hall, 292 

Lester, Charles S., memorial, 289 
L'Estranges, the, 89 
Levies, The, 1776, 51 
Lewis, Cornelia (Kip), 367 

Leonard, Hon., 367 

Matilda (Wendelken), 400 

Morgan, 329 

Sarah, 400 

Lexington, 321 

Light Horse Troop, Somerset 

Co., 119, 120, 121 
Lindeman, Emily (Emmons), 

372 
Ling and Jewell, landlords of 

"The Abbey," 45 
Liscum, (Post), Elizabeth 

(Bradley), 397 
Livingston, Anna de P., (Hunt), 

386 

Ann (Livingston), 331 

Anson, 331 

Brockholst (Henry B.), 

17, 35; Lieut., 52, 61, 178, 

descent, 331, 368 

Carroll, 331 

Cornelia (Livingston), 331 

Cornelia M., (Petit), 386 

Edward H., 344 

Edward M., 386 

Eliza, 344 

Emily M., (Lord), 386 

Gerard W., 169, 213, 336, 

sketch, 385; 386 chart 

Gilbert R., Ensign, 51 

Henry, Capt. -Lieut., 35 

Henry B., 331 

Henry G., Lieut., 34 

Henry W., 331 

James, 386 chart 

Jasper H., 331 

John H., D.D., LL.D., 

sketch, 157; 158 note; 205, 

292 

John W., 89, 334 

Margaret (Livingston), 

386 chart 
Peter R., (4th Lord), 386 

chart 

Peter W., 336, 344, 386 



chart 



578 



^be IRew l^orJi of ^cstcv^a^ 



Livingston, Philip (2d Lord), 
17. 33i> 3^6 chart 

Philip, the signer, 331 

Richard, 53 

Robert (ist Lord), 331, 



386 chart 

— Robert (3d Lord), 
chart 

— Robert, 386 chart 

— William, Gov. of N. 



386 



J-, 17, 



331 



William, 344 
William H., 344 
William H., 386 



Loan, authorized by Congress, 
1813, 60 

Long Acre Square, derivation 
of name, 3 

Long Island, battle of, 328 

Gazette, the, 340 

Loockermans, Marritje, 127 

Govert, 143 

Loots, Trijntje (Banta), 151 

Lord, Day & Lord, 386 

Lord, Edward C, 386 

Loss, Adolphus, Surveyor, 182 

Love, William, 400 

Low, Jane, 109 

John, 10, 12; country- 
seat, 82, 88, 194 

Lawrence, 31 

Mary A., 399 

Peter, Rev., 162 

William, 31 

Low's Woods, 12 

Loyalist Company of the Out- 
ward, officers of, 49 

Lozier, Emma, 419 

John, country-seat, 90 

Oliver, 53 

Lubertus, Cornelia (de Peyster), 
386 chart 

Ludlow, Ann M., (Livingston), 

Gabriel, 331 

William W., 33 

Lutheran Church, 382, estab- 
lished in New York, 1653, 546 
Lush, Thomas R., 404 
Lyon, Joseph, 399 

Lord, 92 

William J., 250, 251, 267 

MacArthur, Robert S., D.D., 265 



Macfarlan, Duncan, 221, 222 
424 

Duncan, son of above, 424 

John, M.D., 425 

Malcom, M.D., 424 

Martha (Thompson), 424 

Mary, 425 

Mack, Caroline (Belcher), 323 

Charlotte (McChain,) 323 

Daniel, 177, 181, removed 

from village, 193, 322 

Daniel, 323 

John, 322 

Lucinda (Steen), 323 

Orlando, 322 

Robert, 323 

Sarah (Woodruff), 323 

Susan (Hallock), 323 

Mackenzie, Robert, D.D., 295 

Macomb, Alexander, Maj.-Gen., 
U. S. A., 352 

Robert, 67 

William, Brigade-Quarter- 
master, 69 

Macomb's Dam, opened to pub- 
lic, 67; a resort, 413 

Madison Cottage, 6 

Square, 4, 5, 6, 356 

Maghee, Alexander, 32 

Samuel, 32 

Major, Letitia, 397 

Mali, Henry W. T., Belgian 
Consul, country-seat, 24 

Magrath, George B., 387 

Man, John, Jr., 149 

Mandeville, familv, 408 

G. H., D.D.' 245 

— — • John, 31 

Yellis, 3 1 

Yellis, Jr., 36 

Manley, James R., M.D., 320 

Manhattan Bank, 337 

Congregational 

282, 283 
Street, 38 



Church, 



Manhattan ville, xxiii., 196, 231 
Mansion-House, the, 95, 96. 

Vide Bumham's 
Mapes, Genl., 72, 390 
Marble Cemetery, 335, 356 

Collegiate Church, 282 

Marcellus, Mary (Mildeberger), 

3^3 
Margits, Katherij (Hegeman), 

302 
Marriage customs, Dutch, 408 



(Beneral Unbex 



579 



Marriages, 446, Index to, 521 

Marschalk, Elizabeth, 367 

Francis, 367 

Maria (Hassens), 127 

Martin, George, 204, 377; wife, 
199, 200 

Jonathan C, 377 

Mary I., (Darke), 377 

Martin's Hotel, 68 

Martineau, Harriet, xxiv. 

Martyn, Carlos, D.D., 240, 241, 
243, called 244, 245, address 
at dedication, 260; historical 
discourse, 265; letter of resig- 
nation, 270, 271, 272 

Sanford S., Rev., 259, 265 

Marx, Asher, his property, 74 

Mary, 344 

Masonic Society, 330, 331 

Mast (Masten), Jan, 363 

Masten, Lysbet J., (Quakken- 
bos), 363 

Mastin, J. Edward, 275, 279, 
282, 286, 288, 289; resigned 
290, tribute, 291 

Matchett, M. B., Rev., 440 

Matthews, Elizabeth, 399 

Mayer, Henrietta, 395 

Theodore, 204, 395 

Mauritz, Anna (Provoost), 142 

Mc Adams, Mrs., 178 

McCarter, Arthur, 374 

McCarthy, cottage, 425 

McCartney, George, 398 

McChain, John, 323 

McConaughey, Sarah J., (Hard- 
ing), 402 

McCord, Nancy, 398 

McCrea, Mary, 178 

Stephen, 336 

McDonald, Alexander W., 403 

Alexander W., Jr., 403 

McDougal, Alexander, Capt., 
122, 392 

Eliza B., (Striker), 122, 

392 
McEvers, Bache, 335 
McEvers, C, 178 
McFarlan, Henry, 178 
McGown, Andrew, thanked, 69, 

7i> 77. ■^^r service, 316 

Daniel, Capt., 77 

Eliza, 316 

Eliza Ann S., 316 

Elizabeth A. P., (Wright), 

317 



McGown, Henry P., 317 

Marianna, 317 

Samson B., 78 

William K., Rev., 317 

McGown's Pass, 42, 57; work 

at, begun, 67; description of 

works at, 73; work at, 74; 

its location, 76 
McKay, George, 178, 340 

George Knox, Capt., 340 

Margaret H., (SchiefiEelin) , 

341 
McKenzie, Robert, 402 
McMann, Mary E., (Cudlipp), 

424 
McVickar, Anna, 339 

John, 16, 339 

Mechanic's Bank, 349 
Mechanics & Tradesmen, Gen. 

Soc, of 320, school, 352 
Medical Council, 134 
Megapolensis, Hillegond, 144 

Johannes Domine, 10 1, 145 

Meier, Caspar, country-seat, 24, 

382, 383; 71, 174, 186, 199; 

vault, 202; 203, 204, 213, 345, 

381; children, 384; wife, 199, 

436 

Caspar & Co., 383 

C. & H. H., 383, 384 

Diedrick, 381 

Eliza C, 384 

Emily M., (Smith), 384 

family, 233 

Henrietta M., (von Post), 

384 



John D., 384 
Mary K., (Punnett), 203, 

384 

Mercein, Thomas R., Hon., 61, 
treasurer Committee of De- 
fence, 62, 63 

F. & W., 62 

Mercer Street, 182, 187, 188; 
church, 436 

Merchants' Exchange, 46 

Mersereau, George W., 289 

Messeroe, Capt., 67 

Metropolitan police, 379 

R. R. Co., permission re- 
fused to build on Boulevard, 
278 

Mexican War, 99 

Meyer, Peter, 71 

Sara (Hassens), 126 

Meyers, Mrs., 194 



58o 



OTe flevo l?orl^ of l?e0ter^al? 



Michaelius, Jonas, Domine, loo 
Middle Dutch Church, 368 

Road, 85, 86, 422 

Middleton, Peter, M.D., 324 
Midwout, (Flatbush), 112, 113, 

ii6, 117, 302 
Mier, Isaac, 31 
Milborne, Jacob, Capt., 29 
Mildeberger, Charlotte A. (Pe- 

poon), 313 
Christopher, 6, 70; sketch, 



313 



153 



— Elizabeth (Banta), 313 

— Emeline (Bell), 313 

— John A., 132 

— Margaret A., (Stuyvesant- 
Peckham), 313 

— Oliver, Lieut., 34; sketch, 



313 



Oliver H., 313 



Mile Stones, from Wall Street, 
3d mile, 4; 4th mile, 3 

on the Bowery, 2d mile, 

371 



from City Hall, 5th mile, 
422 
Militia, the, 1738, 30; 1775, 34; 

51 

Milledoller, Philip, D.D., 436 

Miller, Frank, 442 

John, 396, 442; Mrs., 199 

Joseph, 442 

Vashti (Mildeberger), 313 

Mills, Philo, 204 

Millstone, N. J., river, 120, 
court house burned, 1779, 121 

Mindil, George W., Genl., 280, 
289 

Minthorn, Annatje (Man), 149 

John, 149 

Philip, 149 

Samuel, 149 

Sara (Webbers), 150 

Minthome, John, 31 

Mangle, 330 

(Menthaer), Philip, 145 

Philip, Ensign, 30; 2d 

Lieut., 32, 149 

Mission to the Public Institu- 
tions, the, 22 

Missionary work, manner of 
carrying on, 437 

Mitchell, Charles, F. A., 404 

Henry S., 401 

Thomas, Mrs., 403 



Mitchell, Samuel L., M.D., 
quoted, 338 

Moffat, William B., country- 
seat, 47 

Mohegan Engine Company (No. 
50), 99, 416 

Moir, Isabel, 395 

John, Bloomingdale Union 

Academy, teacher at, 93, 395 

Moncrief, Ellen (Osgood), 322 

Monmouth, battle of, 50, 121, 
328 

Monroe, James, President, 44, 

329. 330 

Montagne, Jacob, 32 

Johannes de la. Dr., 78 

John, 32 

Montagne's Kill, 78 

Montanye, Abram, 77 

Monte Alta, 137. Vide Home- 
steads and Country-seats 

Monteith, David, 403 

Montressor's (Ward's) Island, 

349. 369 
Moore, Benjamin, Rev., 26 
Benjamin, line of stages, 



Clement C, 178, 336 
Harriet W., 403 
John, 201, 204 
Margery (Darke), 377 
Martha (Hanaway), 387 
Rosena (Fairbanks-Hege- 



man), 303 
— William A., 277 
William H., 399 



Moreau, Genl., 88 

Morgan, Eliza A. (Holmes), 

361 

Hamilton, 402 

Morningside Park, 43 
Morning Star, S. I., 342 
Morris, Clara, 293 

George P., 13 

Lewis, Col., 8, 349 

Roger mansion, 38, 41, 

325; description of, 326 
Robert R., 340 



Morrisania, 349 
Mott, Adam, the pioneer, 346; 
sketch, 347, 348 

Alexander H., 355 

Anne, 10 

Ebenezer, Lieut., 53 

family, 9, 233 

Garrit S., 1812, 122 



General llnber 



581 



Mott, Henry, 52 

Hopper S., 355, Appendix 

Isaac, 10, 52 note 

Jacob, 52 

Jacob C, 17, 340; wife, 2 

Jacob H., 1810, 122, 351 

James S., 1804, 121, 349 

John, 53 

John H., 1803, 121, obit., 

124 



Joseph, 52, 67, 348 

— Jordan, 9, 68, 79, 121, 
obit., 124, 199, 204, 213, 346; 
sketch, 348, 350 

Jordan, Jr., 1808, 122 

— Lavinia (Strebeck), 199 
M. Hopper, 1815, i22;352; 



sketch, 353, 355 
Samuel, 52 

— Samuel C, 1806, 122; 
obit., 124; sketch, 349, 351 

— Thomas, 52 

— Valentine, M.D., 18, coun- 



try-seat, 22, 23; property, 
94, 352 

Winifred, obit., 124; sketch 



351. Vide Lavinia Striker 
Mott's Lane, 350 
"Mott's Point," 9, 121, 305, 

349> 350. 351 
Muggie, Margaret (Fleetner), 

402 
Muhlenberg, Henry M., D.D., 

382 
Mulligan, J. W., Col., 389 
Mumford, Gurdon S., 61, 184 
Municipal police, 379 
Murphy, the village blacksmith, 

416 

Ned, anecdote, 417 

Joe, actor, 417 

Murray, Daniel, 403 

Hill, 333 

Lindley, 37 

Mary L., 37 

Robert, 37 

Mutual Insurance Co., 339, 383 
Myer, Abraham, Jr., 31 

Aaron, 3 1 

Adolf, Jr., 31 

John, Jr., 31 



Nagel, John, Jr., 31 



Nash, Daniel D., Bloomingdale 
residence, 10, 11, 12, 82, 443, 
wife, 437 
Rebecca, "Goddess of Lib- 
erty, " 443, 444 
Naugle, Jacob, 189, 198 
Neilson, John, M.D., 25 
Nevada Apartment House, 163, 

224, 385, 414 
New Amersf oort (Flatlands) , 

116, 117, 118 
New Bridge, Hackensack, 120 
New Brunswick, war incident, 
119 



Seminary, 208, 209 
Newcastle, Del., 323 
Newcastle, Duke of, 92 
Newcomb, Charlotte (Hopper), 
106 

Zaccheus, 106 

New England shilling, 193 note 

Society, 318 

Newson, Charles, Capt., 181 
Newtown, L. I., 323, Creek, 

347 
New Utrecht, L. I., 117 
New York City, 1776; condition 
of> 35- 57; first Belgian pave- 
ment laid in, 334 

City Dispensary, 321 

Eye Infirmary, 135, 137 

Historical Society, 48, 10 1, 

137, 330 
Hospital, 24; breastworks 

at, 35; 134, 135. 136 

Infant Asylum, 1 1 ; first 

site, 47 

Infant School Society, mis- 



sion of, 298 
— Lane, 4 
Militia, composition of, 

1775. 34 

Mutual Insurance Co., 339, 



383 



Orphan Asylum Society, 
first in the city, 90, 91, 203, 
267, 298, 305, 327, 331, 378; 
grounds described, 419; 
teachers, 420, 422. Vide Or- 
phan Asylum 

Public School Society, 227, 



376 



State, number men fur- 
nished in Revolution, 50, 51 
New York Sun, began publi- 
cation, 334 



582 



Zhe 1Rew IJork of jpeater^ai? 



New York University, 92, 312; 

originated by Alexander 

Gunn, D.D., 162 note on 

portrait 
New York & Harlem R. R., 

extended, 333 
NicoUs, Gov., 116, 144 
Nicholson, Francis, Gov., 29, 30 
Ninth Avenue, sewer, 237 

Regiment, 278 

Street church, 209 

Ward inhabitants at the 

defences, 68, 70, 71 
Nish, James, 396 
Niskayuna, 84 
Nolton, Mr., 204 
Northern Dispensary, 135, 137 
Northrop, John I., 372 
Northwood, Caroline (Blick), 

402 
Norton Brothers, property, 7; 

inheritance, 148 
Mr., house in Harsenville, 

411 
Noxon, Clarinda (Drake), 331, 

332 

Marilla C, (Sidell), 331 

Nutter, Valentine, 67; thanked, 

69, 71; house of, 73 ; farm, 43 



"Oak Villa," 17 

Oakland Cemetery, Yonkers, 

405, note 
Oakley, Abigail, 396 

Lewis, 396 

Mary B., 396 

Samuel, 396 

Tavern, 94 

Oblines, John, 32 
Oblinis, Garret, pensioner, 54 
Odell, Frederick, 396 
Oelrichs, Edwin A., 384 

Herman, 383, 384 

& Co., 383 

& Kruger, 383 

Ogden, Sarah (Hoffman), 90 

Uzal, Rev., 317 

William, 178, 336 

Ogilvie, Mr., 194 
O'Keefe, John, stages, 98 
Old Post Road, 4, 42, 85 
Old-time families, 298 
Oliver, Robert, 193 
Ormiston, William, D.D., 243, 24 5 



Orphan Asylum, the N. Y., in- 
mates at defences, 71, 263, 
275. 276, 351, 415; attend 
the church, 432, 435; burial 
plot, 438; orphans enlisted 
in civil war, 441. Vide New 
York Orphan Asylum Soc. 
Osgood, Martha B., (Genet), 320 

Juliana (Osgood), 320 

Samuel, sketch, 321, 322 

Samuel W., 321 

Susan M. (Field), 322 

Walter F., sketch, 322 

Overmeyer, Louis, 404 
Oyster Bay, 118 



Paine, William H., 17 
Paldwin, William, 178 
Page, J. Augustus, 244 
Palmer, John E., 303 

John W., 303 

Park, A. J., Rev., 243, 387 

Anna, 83 

at Broadway & 9th Ave- 
nue, 235 

Charles F., country-seat 



and sketch, 83 

— City Hall, 68 

— Mr., 200 
Presb3rterian Church, ori- 



gin, 381; 424, 425 
Parker, Caroline (Wood), 399 

Daniel, 56 

Parkinson, William, Rev., 173 

Paris, treaty of, 56 

Parks, Deborah A., (Findley), 

363 ^ ^ 

George, death of, 441 

John, 131, 204, 212, 362 

Parliament, Catharine (Kent), 

307 
"Parsonage Acre, 165; oner 

for part, 243; sale, 243, 244; 

251, 252; building begun, 164; 

199; damaged, 236; 262, 387 
Parsons, Ann (Redman), 348 
Parsons & Petit, 386 
Pastors emeriti, duties of , 24 1 , 242 
Patterson, David, 212, 396, 

wife, 396 

Mary (Graham), 396 

Patton, Rev. Dr., of Princeton, 

307, 381 
Paul, Judith, 188 



(General Hn^ei 



583 



Paulus, Anna (Hoppe), 104 

Jiirck, 104 

Pavonia, 140 

"Peacemaker, The," gun, 11 

Pears, Janneke, 151 

Rachel, 152 

Peckham, Walton H., 313 
Pfening, Frederick, 404 

Pauline, 404 

Pelican Inn, at Harsenville, 

95 
Pennoyer, Robert, landlord at 

Striker's Bay, 14 
Pennsylvania shilling, 193 

note 
Peppin & Satterthwait, 382 
Pepoon, Marshall, 313 
Perit, family, 436 

John, 378 

Pelatiah, country-seat, 92, 

420, 433, 213; sketch 377; 

founds church, 222, 380; trib- 
ute, 420; wife, 419, 421 ; 378, 

379, 431, 434; recollections 

of, 435> 436 
Perit & Lathrop, 378 
Perit 's Lane, 424 
Perkins, J. Newton, Rev., 

quoted, 350 
Perry, Joanna, 436 
Peters, Madison C, D.D., 273, 

sketch, 274, letter, 277, 278, 

279, 280; chaplain 9th Reg., 

278, activities, 281 
Thomas McC, D.D., 22; 

residence 23, 424 
Petit, Edward, 386 

Jules, 386 

Mme., school, 23, 94, 386 

Philippe, Louis, 88, 89 
Philipse Manor House, 59 
Phillips, David L., 267 
Phoenix Bank, 334 

Insurance Co., 337 

Pieterzen, Adolf, 127 

Pimley, George H., 228, killed 

in war, 442 
Pintard, John M. 26 
Pluckamin, N. J., war incident 

at, 120 
Plumley, Gardiner S., Rev., 408; 

reminiscences, 409, 410; his 

mother, 408, 410 
Pluvier, Cornelis, 127 
Poe, Edgar Allan, 13 
Virginia, 13 



Poems written in Bloomingdale : 
The Night before Christ- 
mas, 336 
The Raven, 13 
Woodman, Spare that 
Tree, 13 

Polhemus, Elizabeth (Post), 320 

Johannes Theodorus, Do- 
mine, 113 

Police Station, Harsenville, 416 

Pollock, George, 25, 26 

St. Clair, identified, 26 

Poor Farm (Arme Boiiwery), 
1686, 147 

Porter, E. H., M.D., 270 

Portrous, James G., obit., 277 

Post, Abraham, 109, no 

Adrian, 1841, no 

Albert, 1811, no 

Alexander, 1800, 109 

Alfred C, M.D., 27 

Alison, 317 

Ann (Bayley), 320 

Ann B., 1840, no 

Anthony, Capt., 53; Col., 

2, 68, 183; vault, 203, 320 

Anthony, Jr., 320 

Benjamin, 109 

Betsy (Manley), 320 

Cornelius, 52 

Elizabeth, 1841, no 

Elizabeth (vanDebeck), 403 

Edward, 27 

family, 10 

Henry, 32, 52; Ensign 58; 

67, 68; thanked, 69; 71; 
scholar 1802, 109; 171, 176, 
187, 188, 190, 192, 196, 199, 
201, 204, 207, 313; sketch 
314, 315- 316; wife 198 

Jacob, 1796, 109, 320 

Joel, 27, 197,^.199, 204, 317 

John, 1812, no; 1832, no 

John A., no, 317 

Jotham, 317, 319 

Jotham, Jr., 70, 317 

Magdalena, 320 

Margaret L., no 

Mary, no 

Nancy (Hawes), 317, 319 

Nelly (Valentine), 320 

Peter R., 178 

Rachel, no 

Richard, 52; Lieut., 31 

Road, the, 57, 58, 77, 18 



Vide Old Post Road 



584 



tTbe 1Rew IJork of l^eatcrba^ 



Post, Samuel, 53 

Sarah A., scholar, 1832, 

no 

Sarah A., (Ferris), 316 

Wright E., M.D., 317 

Zebulon, 53 

Potter (Claessen) Jannetje, 84 

Dirck Claessen, 84 

Horatio Bishop, 22 



Powis J., 395 
Richard, 199, 



204; wife. 



199 
Prall, Abraham, 342 
Abraham, son of above, 

342, 343 

Abraham A., 308 

Abraham A., son of Icha- 



bod, 343, 344 

— Antje, 342 

— Arent, 342 

— Augustus A. 
Benjamin, 342 

— Catharine, 342 

— Cornelia A., (Benjamin), 



199 



343 



Daniel, 342 

— Hannah M., 309, 343 

— Helen S., 343 

— Henry R., 343 

Ichabod, 61, 68, no, 175, 

176, 184, 186, 188, 193, 195, 
199, 204; vault 203, 206, 
207, 232; wife 199; slaves 
304, 341; sketch 342, 363 

— Ichabod, son of above, 343 

— Isaac, 342 

— Joanna R., 253 

— John T., 343 

— Magdalen R., 309 

— Mary, 342 

— Mary, dau. of Abraham, 



342 



Peter, 342 

Peter, son of Abraham, 

342. Vide de Prael. 

Presbyterian Board of Publica- 
tion, 434 

■ Church, established in 

New York, 1662, 546 

Prime, Nathaniel, 178; sketch 
341 

Wendell, D.D., 265 

Prime, Ward & King, 338 

Prince of Wales, reception at 
Chamber of Commerce, 380; 
reception in Bloomingdale, 92 



Prince, Samuel, 1776, 37 
Princeton, U. S. Ship, 11 
Princeton, battle of, 50, 120 
College, buildings com- 
pleted at, 327; 328, 333 
Theological Seminary, 256, 



283 

Prisoners, American, 57 
Provoost, Johannes, 141 

Johannes, Jr., 30 

John B., Recorder, 26 

Theodosia (Burr), 327, note 

Pruyn, Catharyna (Hassens) , 

127 
Public place. Boulevard, 9th 

Ave. at 66th Street, 237 
School Society, 321, 330, 

353 
Punnett, James, 203, 384 

Herman, 203 

Walter, 203 

Purcell, Catharine E., 203 
Purdy, Ann E., 400 

Catharine, 253 

Elijah, 308 

Purple, Edwin R., Dr., 324 

Purth, George T., obit, 248 

Putnam, Genl., 37 

Pyatt, John, 295, 296 

Memorial, 295; unveiled, 

295. 297 

Runyon, 295 

Runyon, 275, 279, 282, 

288, 289, 293, 294, 295, 296 



Q, 



Quackenbos, Abraham, 109 

Benjamin, 32, 53, 152 

Claasje, 152 

Jacob, 52 

Pieter, common ancestor. 



363 



Rynier, 363 



Quackenbosh, Corni;lius, 32 
Quackenbush, family, 363 

James, 197, 198, 200, 204, 

363 ; wife, 199 

James, 1806, 109 

John, 109; 1806, 109 

Lawrence, 1803, 109 

Maria (van Orden), 364 

Samuel, 1804, 109 



Quakers, presecution of, 338 
Queens College, N. J., 15? 
Vide Princeton 



(Beneral llnbei 



585 



Quick, 



-, 400 



Catharine (Frederick), 402 
Henry, 214, 398 



Radclift, William, 35 

Raeder, Magdalena (Bauer) 402 

Ral Annatje (Minthome) 149 

Randall, John, Jr., withdraws 
map, 71 

Randall's Island, 349, 369 

Rapp, Sarah L., (Halden), 403 

Raritan, 1778, 121 

Ray, Cornelius, 178, 337 

John, 442 

Margaretta (Hawes), 320 

Richard, 32, 337 

William, 52, 303 

Read, Emily, 223, 400 

Mary A., 223, 400 

John, 215, 223, 224 

Redman, Elizabeth (Mott), 348 

Reed, Edward A., D.D., 241, 
245, 259, 261 

Samuel B., 240, architect 

4th House of Worship, 249, 
251, 259, 267, 271, 404 

Reformed Church in Broome 
Street, 350 

faith, established in Amer- 
ica, 1625, 546 

Reid, Ann (Clark), 399, 415 

Elizabeth, 399 

John, 415 

Reign of Terror, 87 

Reis, Elizabeth (Webbers), 153 

Reminiscences, 405-445 

Remsen, Aris, 53 

Catharine (Lawrence), 309, 

311 



Dorothea, 311 

Henry, 53, 337 

Jacobus, 52 

John, 311 

Renfrew, Baron (King Edward 

VII), 92, 93 
Rennie, Peter, 214, 398, 415 
Rensselaerwyck, 145, 354 
Revolution, the, 33, 96, 173, 

incident, 418 
Reynolds, John P., 402; place, 

83 
Rhinelander, Eliza L. (Edgar), 

338 



Rhinelander, Frederick W., 338 

Louisa (Rowland), 338 

Philip J., 335 

William, 178, 335, 338 

Rhoades, Cornelia R., 253 

Lyman, 308 

Rhodes, Ann, 399 
Richbell, John, 348 
Richmond, James C, Rev., 387 
Richmond, William Rev., 22, 

91, 388, 418; Mrs., 22, 23 
Ridgeway, Martha (Yates) 398 
Riker, Abraham, Lieut., 52 

James, 377 

Patience (Lawrence), 387 

Richard, Recorder, 178 

204, 332, 387 
Samuel, 332 



Risk, Anne (Russel), 395 

Ritter, Cambridge, 304 

Hannibal, 409; anecdotej 

410 
Joanna H., (Harsen), 129, 

308 



Johann Pieter, 1698, 129 

John Peter, 1788, 129, 308 

Magdalen, 186 

Moses, 52 

Slaves, 304 

Ritson, Eliza B., 395 
Ritzema, Rudolphus, Capt., 34 
"River Lane," 415 
Riverside Park, 235, 236, 237, 

278, 29s, 317, 383 
" Road to Bloomingdale, the " 

4, 57 
Robert, Christopher R., 335 
College, Constantinople, 

335 



Daniel, 335 

Mary (Rhinelander), 335 

Roberts, James A., State Comp- 
troller, quoted, 49 

John B. & Co., 295 

Robertson, Agnes (Rennie), 398 

George, 228, 400 

Robinson, Elizabeth F. (Stan- 
ley), 401 

James, 399 

Joseph, Capt., 32 

Joseph, 404 

Mary, 344 

Mr. Rev., 215, 429 

Rodgers, Eliza (Bayard), 370 

Harriet A., (Ellis), 400 

John, D.D., 162, 370 



586 



Z\)c 1Rew l?orft of ^cetcvM^ 



Rodger's Tavern, in Harsen- 

ville, 94, 389 
Roelofs, Catarina, 127 
Rogers, Ann, 20; widow, 44, 47 

family, 44 

William, 20, 21, 46, 47 

Romein, Sarah (Webbers), 149 
Roosevelt Farm, the, 144 
Margaret (de Peyster), 386 

chart 
Rose, Charlotte, 2 

Thomas, 188, 192 

William L., 2, 71, 

" Rose vale, " 122, 232, 352, 

description of, 392 
Ross, Emeline, 303 
Letitia J., 303; (Moore), 



399 



Peter A., 303 
Peter A. H., 303 
John E., 303 
Sarah F., 303 
William S., 303 



Roulet, John S., 61, 88, 186, 

336 
Rowan, Stephen W., Rev., 161, 

198 
Ruinen, village of, Holland, 114 
Runyon, Benjamin, 296 
Elizabeth (Pyatt), 295, 

296 



Peter, 296 

Vincent, the pioneer, 295 

Russell, Annie, 293 

James G., 204, 395; Mrs., 

199 
Rutgers College, 255, 370 
Elizabeth (de Peyster), 

33^ 



Henry, 186, 336 

Mary (McCrea), 336 

Presbjrterian Church, 276 

Ryder Ro:, Surveyor, 145 

S 

Sacchi, Gustavus A., 89 
Sackett, Elizabeth (Fish), 328 
Sackett's Harbor, 328 
Sailors' Snug Harbor, opened 

334, 379 
Samler, Andrew, 54 
Barbara (Asten), gift, 356. 

Vide Asten 

Catherine, 54 

Caspar, 187, 356 



Samler, George, 54 

Henry, 54 

houses, near Madison 

Square, 187 

Maria, 54 

Mary (Schiefielin) , 187 

John, pensioner, 54 

John, 54 



Sanford, Nathan, 178 
Sands, Cornelia (Prime), 341 

Comfort, 341 

Sanger's soap works, in Harsen- 

ville, 415, 416 
Saratoga, 121, 328 
Savage, Joseph W., 153 
Samuel A., 153, 155, 199, 

204; Mrs., 199 
Schenectady; burned, 29 
Schieffelin, Effingham, 71, 187 

George R., xxv. 

Henry H., 204 

Jacob, 21, 70, 341 

Richard L., 17; sketch, 

341 
Schieffelin, Coulthard & An- 
derson, 188, 189 
Schmidt, John W., Prussian 

Consul, 24 
Schools, 93, 94, 165 ; No. 9, 423 
School of Collegiate Dutch 

Church, 108, 109 note 
Schricy, Caroline (Hays), 401 

Eliza, 401 

Schuyler, Alida (Livingston), 

331, 386 chart 

Arent, 314 

David P., 353, 354 

Eliza (Hamilton), 327 

Erwin H., 270 

Jane (Board), 314 

Jacob D., 355 

Jacob, Jr., 355 

John J., 122, 353, 355 

Margaretta (Livingston), 

386, chart 

Peter, Col., 30, 386, chart 

Philip, Capt., 90, 314 

Philip D., 354 

Philip P., 331 

Ruth A., (Mott), 122, 353 



Schwab, Charles M., mansion, 



91 



Gustav H., 384 



Scott, Margaret (Kinkade), 395 

John Morin, sketch, 36, 

328 



General Unbei 



587 



Scott, Winfield, 393 
Scudder, John, D.D., 421 
Scudder's Museum, 108 
Seal of Church at Harsenville, 

183, 242 
Seaman, Catharine (Livingston), 

331 

Edmund, 331 

Seaman's Retreat, 369 
Seaman's Bank for Savings, 

379 
Searls, Thomas G., 394 
Second Regiment, in the Revolu- 
tion, 48 
Secor, Richard J., Dr., 275 
Sedgwick, Theodore, 386 
See, J. L., D.D., 245 
Seem, Samuel H., Rev., 278 
Selijns, Annetje (Webber), 139 

Henricus, Domine, 142, 

324 



Margareta, 142 

Neisgen, 139 

Senft, Henry, 372 
Sevenhoven, Jean, 128 
71st Street grading, 228; open- 
ing, 235; sewer, 235; paving, 

237 

72d Street opening, 235; sewer, 
23s ; paving, 237 ; grading, 237 

73d Street opening 235; grad- 
ing, 237; paving, 237; swamp 
at, 427 

74th Street, 427 

Sexton, the first, 166; the 
duties of, 197. Vide Isaac Dey 

"Shanty-town," 410, 440 

Sharp, John, 182 

Shatzel, Ann M., (Cole), 395 

Shaw, Grizzel, 333 

Susan (Schuyler), 355 

Sheltering Arms, the, 22, 23 

Shepherd, Thomas, 374 

Thomas F., 374 

Shillings, computation by, 193 
and note 

ShurtlifE, Maria (Emmons), 372, 

394 
Shute, Margarete (de Riemer), 

150 

John, 61 

Sickels, (Sighels), Anna (Web- 
bers), 151 

Daniel E., Gen. 18 

John, 3 1 

Sidell, John A., 331, 332 



Sigonier, Henry, 154 

Susannah, 154 

Silliman, Genl., 42 

Simpson, Joseph, 89 

Silva, Eliza A., 401 

William D., 401 

67th Street sewer, 237 

68th Street opening, protest 
entered against, 227, 228; 
grading, 237; paving, 275 

Skelding, Mary (Harsen), 128 

Skillman, Jacob C., 339 

Skinner, Alexander R., 401 

Slavery, act to abolish in N. Y., 
304, 305 ; suggested by Tomp- 
kins, 330 

Slaves, 303, 340, 349 

Sleepy Hollow, church at, 79, 
cemetery, 256 

Slote Lane, 346 

Slorach, Isabella (Watson), 397 

Smallwood, Col., 42 

Smedes, Mr., 184 

Smidt, Diedrick, 381 

Smith, Albert, M.D., 384 

Alexander, 400 

Charles W., 155 

Elizabeth (Lady Carteret), 

(Lawrence), 310 

Hannah (Martin), (Riker), 



377 



Jane (Wynans), 402 

John, 399 

John P., 397 

Mary (Holmes), 360 

Mary H. (Striker), 123 

Sarah (Kip), 367 

Sarah, 400 

William S., U. S. Com- 
missioner, 1812, 56 

Smyth, G. H., Rev., 259 

Society of the Cincinnati, 324, 
328 

for the Relief of Widows 

& Orphans of Medical Men, 
135, 137 

Soldiers' Lint and Bandage 
Society, 136 

Somerindyck, (Somerindyk, 

Somerindyke, Somerindick, 
Somerindicke, Somerindijck) 

Abigail (Thorn), 83, (Cock) 



Altie (Webbers), 148 
Caroline (Shepherd), 374 
Cornelia (McCarter), 374 



588 



Zl)c IRew jpork of ipeeter^ai? 



Somerindyck, Charles L., 374 

Egbert, 149 

Elbert, 150, 151 

family, 58 

farm, 10, 12, 81, 83, 92, 

171, 225, 408 

Folkert, 31 

George, no, 374 

George W., 374 

house, 92, 93 

Hyder, 371 

James C, 374 

John, II, 82; land of, 160, 

176; widow, 176, 374 

Lane, 365 

Margaret (Hardenbrook) , 

374 



Martha E., 374 

Sarah (Talman), 82 

Teunis, farm, 90, 96, 327; 

house pillaged, 56, 88; 361, 
382, 422; described, 423 

Volkert, 33 

Whitfield S., 374 

William, 1843, i^o 

William H., 374 



Somerset, N. J., Militia, 50; 

history of County, 119, 120, 

121 
Somerville, Jane, 380 
Sons of Liberty, 34, 36, 108 

of the Revolution, 41 

Soule, Julia M., (Mott), 122 

W. W., 122 

South River (Delaware), 

370 
Sowery, Francis, 154 
Sperry, Deborah (Cozine), 306 
Spetnagel, Theodore, 287 
Spring, Gardiner, D.D., 409 
Sprong, John, 31, 84 
Squatters, 211, 224, 440 
St. Agnes Chapel, 16 
St. Barnabas House, 22 
St. James', Hamilton Sq., 22, 82 
St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum, 341 
St. Luke's Hospital, 336 
St. Mark's, in the Bowery, 313; 

churchyard, 330 
St. Mary's, Manhattan ville, 341 
St. Michaels', Bloomingdale, 19, 

21, 44; records, 45, 203; 91, 

336; churchyard, 365 ; 412, 

424 
St. Nicholas Avenue (Harlem 

Lane), 43 



St. Nicholas Avenue Insurance 

Co., 353 

Society, 135, 137 

St. Patrick's Society, 339 
St. Pauls', churchyard, 335 

Cathedral, London, 261 

St. Stephen's, 79, 346, 348, 350 
Staets, Sara, 141 
Stages. Vide Bloomingdale 
Stakes, John, 10, 53 
Staniford, Charles W., 45 

Daniel, 45 

Stanley, Thomas, 401 
Stanton, Hannah (Holmes), 359, 

428 
Stark, Mary A., 399 
State University, N. Y., 330 
Staten Island, 117, 342 
Steddiford, Genl., 72 
Steele, Emily, 397; family, 407 
Steen, John, 323 
Steenwyck, Cornelis, 142 
Sterry, Sybil (Lawrence), 310 
Stevens, Alexander H., M.D.,134 

Charles B., 359 

Ebenezer, Lt.-Col., 53 

Isaac v., 359 

John J., 359 

Thomas G., 359 

Thomas J., 199, 204, 359; 

Mrs., 199 
Stevensen, Jacob, residence, 115 

Oloff (van Cortlandt) 347 

Stewart, Maria L., 344 

Otis D., 240, 242, 404 

William J., 186, 336 

William R., 177, 344 

Stickles, Maria (Bowne), 340 
Stille, Claasje J., (Quakkenbos) , 

363 

Cornelis, 151 

Cornelis J., 139 

Frederick, 150 

Jacob C, 149, 363 

Jannetje, 151 

Stillwell, Stilwell, Daniel, 342 

Elizabeth, 339 

Grace, 149 

John, 33 

Lane, 342 

Mary (Prall), 342 

Samuel, 339, 342 

Thomas, 33 

Stinson, William C, D.D., xxv. ; 

called, 283; letter, 284-5; 

sketch 287-8:293, 296, 297 



(3eneral In^ei 



589 



Stirling, Genl., 36 
Stoddard, A., 401 

Frances, 401 

Stokely, Amelia, 400 
Stonington, Conn., 66 
Storm, Garrit, 61 
Stout, Richard, 431 

William M., 250, 251 

Stratton, Catharine, 1806, 154, 

IS5 

Sarah, 1808, 154 

William, 154, 155 

William W., 1810, 154 

Strawberry Hill (Herald Square) 

4 
"Strawberry Hill Hotel," the 

name discredited, 47 
Strebeck, George, Rev., founder 

of St. Stephen's Church, 79, 

199. 346 
Jordan M., made prisoner 

twice, 1812, 79, 80 
Street improvements, 223, 228, 

235, 236, 237, 238 
Strijcker, Dirck, Knight, 1677, 

114 

family, 114 

Gerrit, 115, 118 

Herman, 1562, 114 

Jacobus, 8; magistrate, 12, 

115; founder of family in 

America, 114; at New Amers- 

foort 116; portrait, 1655, 117; 

Schout, 1673, 117 

Jan, Schout, 112, 113, 114; 



delegate, 1674, 117, 126 
Striker, Ambrose K., 235; anec- 
dote, 437 

Ann, 9, 1781, 121, 164, 

199; life of, 257; sketch, 305; 

351 

Caesar, slave, 301 

Dennis, pensioner, 54 

family, 233, 408, 436 

Gabriel F., 1805, 123, 

124 

George H., obit., 124 

George W., 1802, 123 

Garrit H., 9, Capt., 75, 

1784, 122, 124, 153, 165, 
218; bequest, 234-5; life of, 
257; mansion, 306; Genl., 
sketch, 388, 431; Mrs., 199 

Garrit H., Jr., obit., 124 

Gerrit, of Striker's Bay, 



12, 118; Mrs., 55 



Striker, Helen (Watkins-Ayc- 
rigg), 123, 124, 300, 301 

James, 9, 13; enlisted, 50, 

119; 55; Ensign, 58; thanked, 
69; Elder, 85; biography and 
genealogy, ii2;married, 1780, 
121; second marriage, 1790, 
122 ; mansion, 123 ; obit., 1831, 
125; 132, 159, 160, 169, 176, 
182, 197, i99;vault, 200, 232, 
356; 204, ill, 208, 298, 301, 
315; portrait burned, 126; 
Mrs., 126, 198, 436 

James A., 394 

Jemima (Swords), 1809, 

123, 301, 306 

John H., 179s, 122; house 

burned, 126, 197, 209, 300 
Lavinia (Mott), 1782, 121, 



346 ; sketch, 349. Vide Wini- 
fred Mott 

Maria (Cornell), 122, 300 

Richard A., 1797, 122, 

196, 197, 199, 204, 206, 208, 

300, 315 

Winifred (Mott), 9. Vide 

Lavinia Striker 

Striker z;5. Mott, 306 

Striker's Bay, 7, 9; tavern, 13; 
18; fortifications at, 38; revo- 
lutionary history, 55; 98, 
no, 119; British aggressions 
at, 121, 123; estate partitioned 
1856, 125; IS9, 201, 305, 
346, 389; sign, 436 

Striker's Lane, 392 

Stryker, Emily H., xxv., 388, 
diary, 405, 407. Vide Hana- 
way 

Garret, 118 

Jacobus, 1682, 118 

Jan, 302 

John, 118, Capt., 50, 1776, 

119, 121 

Martha, 118 

Mercy, 118 

Peter, Capt., 29 

Peter, D.D., xxv., 388 

William S., Genl., quoted, 



119 



Wyntje (Lane), 118 



Stuart, Hannah, 394 

William, 394 

Stuyvesant, Ann (Bayard), 370 

Anne (Verleth), 140 note 

Elizabeth (Fish), 328 



590 ^be mew 13orft of ^CBtcv^w^ 



Stuyvesant, Gerard, 127; Capt., 

30 

Petrus, 139, 328, 354 

Robert, 313 

Stuyvesant's Bouwery, 306 

Company, 9 

Stijmets, Catharina (Hopper), 

105 
Sugar House, 52 note 

Loaf Street, 391 

Sunday-Schools, one of the 

earliest, 231; 409 
Surgical Aid Society, 136 
Sutton, Albert, 308 
Swackhamer Eve (Schuyler) , 

355 
Swamp at 73d Street, 427 
Swanser, Sarah, (Stake), 10 
Swansten, William, 152 
Swartwout, Rachel (Kip), 367 

Thomas, 302 

Swift, Joseph G., Genl. 66; 

report on fortifications, 73, 

74 

Swords, Edward J., 123, 306 

George H., 123 

Synod of Dort, the, history of, 
100, articles quoted, appen- 
dix C 

Syren, U. S. Brig-of-War, 79, 
captured, 80 



Z 



Tablet to commemorate de- 
fences, 1812, 75 

Talcott, August B., 365 

family, 419 

Frederick L., 365 

Frederick L., Jr., 365 

Frederick S., 90 

Noah, 365 

& Sons, 365 

Talleyrand, in Bloomingdale, 
88 

Talman, Dowah D., 1847, no 

John H., residence, 82; 

secular, 1847, no; 178 
Peter, no 



Tammany Society, 60; Hall, 

68, 320 
Tappan, Mr., 204 
Tates (Yates?) Mary (Somer- 

indyck), 374 
Tavern, the Oakley, 94; village, 

94, 95 



Taxation, churches and school 
houses exempted from, 227 

Taxes and Assessments, remit- 
ted, 228, 234, 239; paid, 229, 

244 

Taylor, Amelia (Mott), 122 

Col., of South Carolina, 60 

Jacob B., 122 

John, 178 

Moses, 122 

Teller, Catherine, 178 

"Temple of Health, the," 36 

Ten Broeck, Catherine (William- 
son), 296 

Wessel W., 296 

Ten Brook, Dirck, 67 

ten Eijck, Coenraedt, 152 

Tenth Avenue, 224; sewer at 
70th Street, 235; extended, 
1850, 416; 1849, 427; 429 

Terhune, Charles F., Mrs., 293 

Terry, Roderick, D.D., 245 

Thayer, Abel, contractor, 86 

The Raven, 13 

Theunis, Jannetje (Dey), 325 

34th Street Reformed Church, 
388, 444 

Thomas, Margaret, 344 

Thompson, Adam, 424 

A. R., D.D., composed in- 
scription to Domine Van 
Aken, 256; 257 

Catharine (Jasper), 385 

Corporal, 6 

Elizabeth, 398 

Hannah (Prall), 175, 342 

John, 177, 342 

J. P., Dr., 435 

Robert, Capt., 416 

Robert W., 424 

Thomson, David, xxv. 

Thong, Maria (Livingston), 386 

chart 

Walter, 386 chart 

Thorn, Leonard, residence, 83 
Thorne, Herman, Col., 15 

Herman J., 15 

Ticonderoga, capture of, 51 
Tiffany, O. H., D.D., 265 
Tilly Tudlum, 121 
Tillou, Francis R., 344 
Tilton, Capt., landlord of "The 

Abbey," 45 

Edgar J., D.D., 292, 295 

Tinellie, Julia (Lush), 404 
Tomb in Riverside Park, 25 



(Beneral 1In^ex 



591 



Tompkins, Charlotte P., 365 

Christopher, 372 

Daniel D., Governor, 64, 

66, 178; sketch, 328; Vice- 
President, 329, 330, 390 

Emily L., 365 

Fort, first stone laid, 328 

Jonathan G., 329 



Tompkins Market, when erected, 

329 

William G., 365 

Tompkins ville, S. I., 329 
Torot, Elizabeth (Mack), 322 
Townsend, Sarah O., (Have- 

meyer), 372 
"Tract-distributors," 436, 437 
Treacey ville, 406 
Treaty of Ghent, signed, 76 

Paris, 1763, 28 

Trenton, battle of, 50, 120 
Tribes Hill, N. Y., 298, 300 
Trinity Cemetery, Carmans ville, 
41, 45, 97, 131; Harsen re- 
mains at, 132 

Striker remains at, 124; 

393, 422, 424; all Harsen- 
ville lies at 428; 438, 441, 443 
Churchyard, 14 



Tripp, Jacob, store, 425 
TroUope, Mrs., quoted, 23 
Tryon, Gov., 14, 35 
Turell, Ebenezer, 150 
Turkington, Joseph, killed in 

civil war, 442 
Tyler, James, war incident, 

442, 443 

James M., 388 

Mary A., "America," 443 

President, 11 

Tyson's shop, 168 

12th Reg., N. Y. Volunteers, 

441 
22d Reg., Armory, plans filed 

273 

Ufford, Hezekiah G., Rev., 
Bloomingdale school, 93, 168, 
184, 432 

Underhill, John, 347 

Union College, 161 

Square, xxv., 4, 408 

Theological Seminary, 433 

Trust Co., 235 

University Place, extended, 334 



United States Bank, 60 

Hotel, opened, 334 

Trust Co., 137 

Ursin, Johannah V. B., 344 
Utrecht, University of, 158 

u 

Valentine, Odell, 320 

van Aken, Alexander G., Rev., 

239. 374 

Enoch, Rev., called, 210; 



131, removes from village, 
215, letter quoted, 216; 222, 
223, 225, 226, cancels large 
liens, 228, collects award, 229, 
gift to, 234, 235, more liens 
cancelled, 235, assistant au- 
thorized, 238, his unique 
services, 238, 239, declared 
emeritus, 240, 241, statement 
of outstanding liens, 241, 242, 
obit., 254, memorial, 254, obit- 
uary, 255, tablet, 256, sketch, 
257:258, 259, 261, tablet, 268, 
269; 293, 350, 356, 373, 374, 
393, funeral sermon for Genl. 
Striker, 394; 406, 415, ill, 
429, 431, 438, address, 439, 
441, retrospect, 444, anecdote, 
445. Mrs., 432, 437 
Enoch, 374 

— Enoch C., 374 

— Gulick, Rev., 218, 255, 373 

— Harold, 374 

— John, 374 
William, 255 



van Antwerp, Mr., 197 

van Arden, Ariente (Webbers), 
148 

van Baerle Justine H., (van 
den Heuvel), 332 

van Beuren, Col., 67 

van Braakel, Rachel (Hege- 
man), 395 

van Brug, Johannes, 127 

van Brugh, Catherine (Living- 
ston), 331, 386 chart 

Johannes P., 386 chart 

Peter, 331, 386 chart 

van Buskirk, Andrew, 184 

Caroline, 365 

Lawrence, 203, 365; Mrs. 



203 



Sylvester S., 365 
Virginia T., 365 



592 



^be IRew IJork of 13e0ter^a^ 



van Buskirk, William L., 365 
van Bylet Hellegonda (van 

Rensselaer), 354 
van Cleef, Paul D., D.D., 264 
van Cortlandt, Pierre, 195, 196, 

344 

Philip, Genl., 371 

van Cortlandt, Stephen, 345 
van Court, Ann (Runyon), 296 
van Couwenhoven, Aaltje (Has- 

sens), 126 

Aeltje, 144 

Johannes, 127 

Sara (Aartse), 127 

van Dam, Rip, 141, 386 chart 
Catalijntie (Thong), 386 

chart 
van Debeck, Albert, 403 
van de Bergh, Adam, 32 
van de Water, Albertus, 32 

Augustine, 53 

Benjamin, 43 

Cornelius, 33 

Harman, owner of the 

Heights, 31, 42, 43. 54 

Hendrick, 32, 127 

Henry, 32 

John, 1800, 109 

Mary, 109 

Peter, of Amsterdam, 43 



van de Water's Heights, 40; 

described, 42 
van den Berg, Hannah (Varian) , 

357 

Cornelius, 32 

van den Bergh, Adam, first 

stage-route to Albany, 98 
van den Heuvel, Charles A., 

332 



Maria (Hamilton), 332 

— John C, Baron, 16, 70, 
71, 186, 204, 327, 332, 426, 
property, 90, mansion, 95, 
196 

— Justine (Bibby), 332 
Susan A. (Gibbes),332 



van den Poest family, 317. 

Vide Post 
vanderbarak, Cornelius, 53 
van Derbeck, James, no 

Stephen, 1814, no 

Vanderbeck, Mimyan, 1817, no 
Vanderbilt, William K., in 
van der Spiegel, Jacobus, En- 
sign, 29 
Johannes, 152 



van der Spiegel, Laurens, 141, 

144, 148, 152 

Lijsbeth, 152 

Sara, 152, (van Dam), 141, 

386 chart 
Vanderveer, D. N., D.D., 265 
van Deuren, Pieter A., 144 
van Duiirsen, Pieter A., 145, 

148 
van Evera, Burger, 31 

Edde, 31 

Marten, Serg., 30 

van Gelder, Emerantia (Has- 

sens), 127 

Johannes, 127 

van Hook, Isaac A., Col., 72, 

74, 75. 389. 391 
van Home, Cornelius, Capt., 

van Huyse, Theunis Eidese, 42, 

43, 76 
van Meter, E. P., 287 
van Meulen, Grietie, 127 
van Mierop, Franz, Dr., 10 1 

Wilhelmus, 10 1 

van Ness, Evert, 84 

van Nest, Abraham, R., D.D., 

223, 445 
van Nieuwenhuysen, Wilhelmus 

Domine, 142 
van Norden, Alice, 1808, 109 

Anna (Webbers), 151 

Jacomijntje, 151 

Joh ,151 

Johannes, 150 

John M., 1809, 109 

Matthew, 109 

van Oblines, John, 31 
van Orden, Albert, 53 

Charles 52 

Hester, 151 

Jacob, 31 

John, 32, 1808, 109, 364 

Maria (Hopper), 9, 104, 



151 



Margaret F., 397 
Matthew, no 
Peter, farm, 364 
Samuel, son of Peter, 364 
Samuel, i8n, no, 200, 



202, 364; farm, 408 
— Wessell, 364 
William, 364 



van Ostrand, Catherine (Quick), 

398 
van Rensselaer, Jeremiah, 371 



(Beneral flnbci 



593 



van Rensselaer, Johannes, 354 

Killaen H., 44, 354 

Matilda, 44 

Nicholas, Domine, 331, 

386 chart 

Stephen, 186, 336 



van Ruyven, Cornelius, Secre- 
tary, 117 

van Schaick, Adrian, farm in 
Bloomingdale, 83 

Engeltie (Schuyler), 386 

chart 

Rebecca, 83 



van Schayck, Gerrit, 354 

Goosen G., 354 

van Slechtenhorst, Alida (Schuy- 
ler), 354 

Brandt A., 354 

Gerrit, 354 

Margarita (Schuyler), 331 

van Steenberg, Peter, 1791, 
109 

van Twiller, Wouter, 354 

van Varick, Rudolphus, Do- 
mine, sketch, 323 

van Verden, Samuel, 178 

van Vleck, Isaack, 127 

van Wely, Johannes, 354 

van Wyck, Margaret (Varick), 

324 
van Zant, James, 34 
van Ziiuren, Casparus, Domine, 

118, 323 
Varian, Andrew H., 358 

Emeline C, (Jordan), 359 

family, 357, 408 

George W., sketch, 358 

Gilbert C, 358 

Isaac, 32, 357 

Isaac II., 359 

Isaac, son of Isaac, 357, 

359 



Isaac, son of Isaac L., 359 
: — Isaac L., Mayor, 184, 204, 
358;sketch, 359, 375 

— Isaac, Jr., 4 
— John, 51 

— Letitia (Stevens), 359 

— Mary (Coutant), 358 
Mary E., 359 

— Mary W., 359 

— Matilda C, 359 

— Richard, 359 

— Tamar L., 359 
William, 359 

— William H., 359 

38 



Varick, family, 323 

Jan, 324 

Jane D., (Dodge), 324 

John, 324, 325 

John, M.D., 324 

Richard, Mayor, 318; 

sketch, 324 

Richard, Capt., 51 

Theodore v. W., 324 



Verdant Lane, 2, 320, 375. 
Vide Feitner, Leggett Lane 
Verleth, Casper, 140 note 

Judith, 140 note 

Judith, 140, marriage note 



140 



Nicholas, 140, and note 
Sara, 140 



Vermeule, Cornelius, D.D., 215, 

429; anecdote, 430; 436 
Vermilye, A. G., D.D., 240, 241, 

243, 245, 264, 282 

Thomas E., Rev., 223 

Veming, Mr., 407 
Verplanck, Abram I., 354 

Catalina (Schuyler), 354 

Versche-water, (fresh water 

pond), 139 
Versteeg, Bingman, xxv. 
Veryn's land, 117 
Vidal, John, 154 
Vinje, Jan, Schepen, 140 
Virgin, Samuel H., D.D., 245, 

265, 267 
Visboom, Margarita (Varick), 

324 

Sara (Varick), 324 

" Vreden-dael, " 78 

Vroom, G. B., 183 

von Humboldt, Alexander, 378 

von Post, Herman C, 383, 384 

Laurenz H., 383, 384 

Simon H., 384 

& Oelrichs, 383 

Waddell, William, Lt.-Col., 49 
Wade, Robert, 164, 167 
Wagner, Peter, 289 
Wagstaff, David, thanked, 69 

William, 314, 316 

Waite, Anna F., 366 

George W., 366 

John, 213, 366, 367, 397 

Margaret, 396 

William, 153, 155, 367 



594 ^be 1Rew l?ork of ^CQtcvM^ 



Waldo, Horace, 17 

Waldron, Benjamin, 31 

Cornelia (Webbers) , 151; 

Mrs., 202 

Johan F., 32 

John, 3 1 ; Ensign, 5 1 

Peter, 31 

Resolvent, 31 

Richard, 32 

Samuel, Jr., 31, 151 

William, Serg., 30 

Walker, Margaret, 203 

Wall Street, (Langs de Wal), 
126 

Wallace, William Ross, lawyer- 
poet, 13, 353 

Walles, Anna (Webber), 139 

Jan, 139, 144 

Wallis, Anna, 144, 148 

Walser, O. H., Rev., 260 

Walsh, John, teacher, 134 

Walter, Robert, Capt., 29 

Walters, William, 401 

Wanamaker store, site of, 368 

War of 1812, declaration of, 53, 

59. 389 
between England and 

France, 1689, 28 

of the Revolution, 33-58 

with Spain, 278 



Ward, Catherine (Webbers), 150 

Col., 72 

Genl., 321 

Jane (Williams), 394 

Lebbeus B., country-seat, 

10; II, 82 
Waring, Sarah, 401 

William, 401 

Warming-pan, 432 
Warnardus, Grietje, 144 vide 

Harsen, Hassens, Hassingh 
Warner, Daniel, 109 

Magdalena, 153 

Margaret, 109 

Thomas, 153 

Warren, Sir Peter, 357 
Washington Benevolent Soc, 

67 
George, Genl., 38, 39, 41, 

57. 370. 426 

■ Heights, 41 

Insurance Co., 318 

Market opened, 334 

Monument, Hamilton 

Square, corner-stone, laid, 98 
Square Church, 351 



Washington's Army, 316 

Headquarters, 38 

Watkins, Harriet, 301 

Harriet E., 123 

John H., 197 

John S., 123 

Mary S., (Swords), 123, 

301 



Wilbur F., D.D., 245, 265 
Watson, Elkanah, 371 

George, 397 

Watt, Andrew, 204, 395 

Martha, 395 

Watts, Anne (Kearny), 373 
John, 81 

John, Jr., Major, 49 

Robert, 373, 402 

Webber, Arnout, 142 

Arnoult, Jr., 144 

Arnoult, 2 147, 152 

Aernhout 3 , 150 

Aernout*, 1720, 152 

Aernoiit, II., 1724, 152 

Annetje (Jans), 143 

Claasje (Quackenbos) , 152 

Claesje^, 150, 1680, 152 

Cornelius, 11^., 6, 1683, 152 

Cornelis', 1676, 152 

Cornelis, III., 1693, 152 

Helena, 1688, 152 

Hester, 152 

Ichabod, 53 

Jan, 143 

Jannetje (Wolphert), 152 

Johannes, 1678, 1^2 

Rachel (Horn), 6, 1688, 

152 

Rachel, 151 

Sara, captured by Indians, 

141, 144 

Willem, 1723, 152 

Wolfert, 2, 126, 127, 139, 



142, 143 ; narrative, 145. Vide 
Wolfert. 

Wolfert, Jr., 144 



Webbers, Aaltje (Somerindyck) , 

1712, 151 

Aarnoudt*, 151 

Adriaen, 1674, 148 

Adriana (van Norden) ,151 

Aeltje, 151 

Aernout^, 144 

Aernout*, 150 

Alettas, 153 

Aletta* (Savage), 1787, 

153. 155 



(Beneral flnbex 



595 



Webbers, Alida* (Somerindyck) , 

149. 150 
Alidas, 1742, 149, 1741, 

150 

Ann, 1780, 150 

Annatje', 1744, 149 

Anna, Anne (Fonteijn), 

1671, 144 

Annette, 144 

Ariaentje (van Norden") 



149; 1703, 150 
— Arnout*, i 



150 



5, 149, 



Bernardiis3, 1680, 14=5 
Catherine « (Stratten) 154 

— Casparus^, 151 

Cornells, 151 

Cornel us, 31 

Cornelius*, 148: 1710, iqi 

Cornelus^, 151 

— Elizabeth, 150 

Elizabeths, 1742, 150 

— Elizabeth* (Sowery), 1785, 
150; 1789, 154, 155 

■ — family, 10, 335, 408 

Frances (Vidal), 154, 



155 



Frederick, 31 

— Frederick*, 148; 1705, 1.150 

— George?, 1813, 153 

— Grietje, 151 

— Hannah 6 (Hughes), 1792, 
154 

— Hester (van Deuren), 144 

— Hillegond^, 1674, 144 

— Hillegonda = , ( B a n t a ) , 
1736, 149 

— Isaac, 31 

— Isaac, 1715, 151 

— Isaac 5, 151 

— Jacob, 149, 151 

— Jacob*, 148; 1700, 149 

— Jacomijntje, 1733, 151 
Jacomijntje, lis., 1734, 



151 



James, 52 
-Johannes', 1677, 145 
•Johannes*, 1707, 151 
- Johannis, 1755, 149 
■John, 31; 35 
■John, 150; 15s 
■John«, 154 
•John', 1814, 153 
• Lea, 1718, 152 

Magdalana* (Waite), 1785, 



153. 155. 367 



Webbers Margaret, widow of 

John, 155 
Margaret, dau. of John, 

148 
Margarita, Margriete, Mar- 

grietjes (Laffra), 1734, 149, 

151 

Maria (Smith), 155 

Marritje', 1672, 148 

Olfert, Olfreds, 1731, 151; 

1747. 149 

Olfert «, 1764, 151 

Olivarduss, 1740, 150 

Petrus', 1745, 150 

Philip, 71, 85, 126; biog- 
raphy and genealogy, 139; 
149. 152, 155, 157. 159. 160; 
house of, 164, 168; 172, 173, 
298, 312, 341, 367; tract, 375 

Rachel (Horn), 312 

Saertie, 145 

Samuel', 1734, 151 

Sara (Brouwer), 1685, 152 

Sara, wife of Arnout, 148 

Sara, 150 

Sara* (Hardman), 1739, 

149. 154, 155. 166 

Saratje, 150 

Susannah*, 1796, 154 

Trijntjes, 1739, 151 

Trijntje (Keets), 151 

Warnards, 1666, 144 

William*, 1783, 150; 1800, 



154 



William', 1811, 153 

Wolfert, 143, 149 

WolfertJ, 145, 148 

Wolfert 3, son of Arnoult, 

1670, 148, 152 

Wolfert*, 151 

Wolfert s, 1737, 150 

Weber, Frederick, owner of 

"the Abbey," 44, 45, 46 

Frederick, 45 

Matilda, 45 

Webster, Daniel, obsequies, 393 

Pelatiah, 378 

Weed, Mr., 204 

Weir, family, residence, 427 

Wells, George R., M.D., 308 

John, 52 

Lemuel, Ensign, 58; Lieut., 

58; memorial, 59; 68, 167, 
169, 186, 315 

Peter, 52 

Robert, 53 



596 



^be mew J?orft of I?e6tert>ai2 



Wells, Samuel, 59 

Thomas, 53 

Wessell, Charles, 275, 276 

Westbury, L. I., 317 

West End Collegiate Church, 

291, 292 

End Avenue, 420 

India Company, prohibits 

persecution, 338 
Point, 330 



Westerfield, Catherine J., 

(Waite), 366 
Cornelius, 200, 204, 213, 

307, 366; family, 233 

Emma D., 366 

James, 170; vault, 202 

Mary E., 366 

Rachel (Day), 199, 366 

William E., 366 

& Berwick, 181 

Western Inland Lock Naviga- 
tion Co., 324 

Weyman, John W., 70, 366 

William, 17, 71, 194; 

tract, 340 

Whitcomb, Parker R., 277 

White, Alex., candy-store, 425 

Ann, 107 

Street, 107 

Thomas, Capt., 107 

Whitlock, Daniel, 1808, 109 

James, 1803, 109; 1808, 

109 



Jane S., (von Post), 384 

mansion, 24 

Rudolph, 385 

Samuel, 109 

Samuel, 1806, 109 

Thomas B., 109 

William, Jr., 384 

Wildwyck, (Kingston), 117 
Wiley, William L., landlord of 

" Woodlawn, "47 
Wilkes, Charles, 20 
Willemse, (Williams) Antje (van 

Orden), 364 
WiUiam IV., King, 26 

IX., Prince of Orange, 143 

Henry, Prince, King of 

England, 346 
Williams, Abraham V., M.D., 

19; anecdote, 414 

Ann (Ludlow), 331 

Charlotte (McDonald) , 403 

Chevalier W., 313 

Elizabeth (Horn), 313 



Williams, George, 394 

Hattie, 293 

Henry S., 178 

J. Castree, 277 

John, 199, 204, 395 ; Mrs., 

199 
Williamson, John, 296 

Sarah (Duryea), 296 

"Willow Bank," 382-3 

Willson, Agnes, 396 

Frances, 397 

Francis, 396 

Jane, 396 

Wilmott, Charles, 375 
Wilson, Charles, 376 

Elizabeth, 376 

Emma, 376 

George, xxv., 194, 376 

Jacob, 376 

John, 376, 395 

Jotham, sketch, 376; 

family, 376 

Jotham, Jr., 376 

Kate, 376 

Maria (Blake), 376 

Martha (Beard-Hana- 



way), 387 

— Monmouth, 376 

— Richard, 376 
William, 376 



Winch, Charles A., 404 
Window leads taken for bullets, 

1776,37 
Winnans, Mary, obit., 248 
Winslow, Harriet L., (Dulles), 

433 ; marriage incidents, 434, 

436 

Myron, Rev., 422, 433 

Winter, Rev., Dr., anecdote, 

420; 441 
Wiser, Samuel, obit., 248 
Witherspoon, Rev., Dr., of 

Princeton, 333 
Woertendijck, Grietje (Web- 
bers) , 151 
Wolfert's meadows, 139, valley, 
139. Vide Wolfert Webber 
Wolfertse, Aeltje (Hassens), 126 

Jacob (van Koiiwenhoven) 

126 
Wood, Charles, 229, 241, 266 
Fernando, Mayor, resi- 
dence in Bloomingdale, 92; 
his daughter, 93; 425 
John, 399, 419, 422, 424, 



432 



(Beneral flnbei 



597 



"Woodlawn," 23; house of 
Nicholas Jones, 47 ; hotel, 

47 

Cemetery, iii, 386, 435 

Woodman, Spare that Tree, in- 
spired at Striker's Bay, 13 
Woodruff, George, 323 
Woodward, poet, 13 
Wren, Sir Christopher, 261 
Wright, Ann (Cameron), 397 

Barak C, 423 

Eliza, 423, 432 

Eliza A., 399 

Nancy M., 399 

Winifred (Post), 317 

Wynans, Anthony V., 402 



Yale College, 433 
Yates, Adolph, 26 

Catharine, 25 

James D., 398 

Mary A., 398 

Richard, 26 

York shilling, the, 193 
Yorktown, 328 
Yorkville xxiii. 
Youngs, Florence, E., xxv. 



Zabriskie, Martin, 340 



MAY 20 1908 



/ 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 220 587 7 




